Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals for September 7-15 are provided by Pastor Mark Chun of Radiance Christian Church (S. F.).

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 Kings 16: 10-16 (NIV)

Then King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria. He saw an altar in Damascus and sent to Uriah the priest a sketch of the altar, with detailed plans for its construction. 11 So Uriah the priest built an altar in accordance with all the plans that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus and finished it before King Ahaz returned. 12 When the king came back from Damascus and saw the altar, he approached it and presented offerings up on it. 13 He offered up his burnt offering and grain offering, poured out his drink offering, and splashed the blood of his fellowship offerings against the altar. 14 As for the bronze altar that stood before the Lord, he brought it from the front of the temple—from between the new altar and the temple of the Lord—and put it on the north side of the new altar. 15 King Ahaz then gave these orders to Uriah the priest: “On the large new altar, offer the morning burnt offering and the evening grain offering, the king’s burnt offering and his grain offering, and the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their grain offering and their drink offering. Splash against this altar the blood of all the burnt offerings and sacrifices. But I will use the bronze altar for seeking guidance.” 16 And Uriah the priest did just as King Ahaz had ordered. ^[1]

Principally speaking, the entire Bible can be summarized as man’s struggle against idolatry and the restoration of our relationship with the one true God.   Admittedly, most of us probably don’t see this as a problem because we don’t necessarily have physical idols and statues that we bow down to. However, the most dangerous idols are the ones that we have in our hearts.   John Calvin, the theologian of the Reformation, once described human nature as a factory of idols; and because no one has perfect faith, all of us, to varying degrees, hold onto our idols. The problem of idolatry is not merely a Christian issue, nor simply a matter of religion: It is a human dilemma that permeates through our entire existence. Even the ardent atheist Fredrick Nietzsche cites this as a problem in one of his books as he describes our relationship to money and success:

What induces one man to use false weights, another to set his house on fire after having insured it for more than its value, while three-fourths of our upper classes indulge in legalized fraud…what gives rise to all this? It is not real want—for their existence is by no means precarious…but they are urged on day and night by a terrible impatience at seeing their wealth pile up so slowly, and by an equally terrible longing and love for these heaps of gold…What once was done “for the love of God” is now done for the love of money, i.e. for the love of that which at present affords us the highest feelings of power and good conscience.

It would seem that the natural inclination of the human heart is to worship something or someone; and in the absence of God or a weakened relationship with God, we will find other alternatives to fill that void. The human problem of idolatry really only makes sense through the lens of a biblical worldview: We have been created by God in order to worship Him but sin has corrupted that original purpose. In time, the sin of idolatry leads to unspeakable disaster for Ahaz and the people of Israel.

In the same way, idolatry left unchecked in our lives will lead to great tragedy.  Take a moment, therefore, to examine what’s really fueling our drive to accomplish and accumulate: Is it a desire to further God’s kingdom or mine?

Prayer

Gracious Father, would you reveal the hidden idols of our hearts through your Spirit so that we may not sin against you. Help us to love You more than the things that You have created, whether that be money, power, success, or even our families. We confess our tendency to stray from You and ask that You keep our hearts from wandering. We pray in name of the one true God, Jesus Christ, Amen!

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 19

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 1:19-25: For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. ^[2]

Questions to Consider:

1. Why are people without excuse in regards to their ignorance of God?
2. Why do people exchange the glory of God for their idols?
3. What is God’s punishment for those who continue in idolatry?

Notes

1. A common argument against Christianity is the notion that it is unfair to judge people who have never heard of Jesus.  However, Paul reminds us that what can be known about God is plainly evident to all through His creation and is rejected freely; therefore, no one has an excuse.
2. Never one to mince words, Paul teaches us that we exchange God’s glory for our idols due to our futile thinking and foolishness of heart.
3. The most frightening judgment that God can sentence on anyone is simply giving them over to the lusts of their heart and allowing them to freely do whatever they choose.

Evening Reflection

Theologians talk about the different levels of idolatry that we can get entrenched in. All of us have a surface level of idols and these are relatively easy to pinpoint: beauty, wealth, fame, relationships, children, sex, and the list goes on. But there is a second level of idol at a deeper level where the idols are harder to identify—such as independence, control, people’s approval, reputation, and so forth. Generally speaking, these deeper idols drive the worship of the surface idols.   Ask God to help you identify these deeper idols in your life and to give you the wisdom to deal with them.

^[1] The New International Version. (2011). (2 Ki 16:10–16). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

^[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Ro 1:19–25). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals for September 7-15 are provided by Pastor Mark Chun of Radiance Christian Church (S. F.).

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 Kings 16: 5-9 (NIV)

Then Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem and besieged Ahaz, but they could not overpower him. 6 At that time, Rezin king of Aram recovered Elath for Aram by driving out the people of Judah. Edomites then moved into Elath and have lived there to this day. 7 Ahaz sent messengers to say to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, “I am your servant and vassal. Come up and save me out of the hand of the king of Aram and of the king of Israel, who are attacking me.” 8 And Ahaz took the silver and gold found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace and sent it as a gift to the king of Assyria. 9 The king of Assyria complied by attacking Damascus and capturing it. He deported its inhabitants to Kir and put Rezin to death.

Believe it or not, in 1994, shock disc jockey Howard Stern tried to run for the governor of New York!  Stern is probably best known for his obnoxious, vulgar, and crude antics on his radio and television shows.  He had been fined a total of $1.5 million in FCC violations from his show. Yet when Stern found out that running for governor would require him to issue a public financial disclosure statement, he withdrew his candidacy.  His reasoning: a person’s financial affairs is a private matter that should not to be made public.  What an irony it is that a guy who regularly described his drug use and sex life in vulgar details over the airways, felt that money was such a personal issue that it was inappropriate to discuss in public.

The reality is that most people aren’t all that different from Howard Stern in their discomfort about talking about money.  Most of us want to keep our income, our spending, our giving and our assets a private matter.  Let’s face it: money is even hard to talk about with people whom you know and trust, even those in the church.  A study by Princeton University sociologist Robert Wuthnow found that 95% of Christians never discuss personal finances with other church members.  It’s a topic that’s off limits.

However, the Bible speaks frequently and very candidly about money.  Malachi 3:8 tells us that when we withhold our tithes and offerings, we are actually robbing God.  We may read in horror that Ahaz stole money from the temple in order to buy help from the king of Assyria, but are we that much different when we fail to give because we feel like our financial security is threatened?

Jesus reminds us that where our treasures are, there will our hearts be.  This isn’t preaching against prudent saving for a rainy day (Prov. 6:6-8) or our children (13:22), but a reminder that nothing we do with our finances should come at the expense of being generous toward God.  This morning where is your heart? Is it in the security that money seemingly buys or in the love of Christ that cannot be purchased?

Prayer

Lord, remind us again that you love us more than the birds of the air and the flowers of the field, that we don’t need to worry about our daily provisions because you care for us.  Give us wisdom in how we are to steward the financial resources that you have given us, and also the courage not to put our hearts’ desire on earthly treasures.  We lay all of our anxiety and stress upon the cross and ask for your peace in return.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 18

Lunch Break Study

Proverbs 30:8-9 (NIV)

“Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise I may have too much and disown you and say, ’Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”

Questions to Consider:

1. What are the dangers of riches?
2. What are the dangers of poverty?
3. What are the blessings of moderation?

Notes

1. The author of this proverb knows that being wealthy is filled with temptations. When people get rich they build an illusion of self-sufficiency around them. They fail to acknowledge God’s work in their lives because they’re lulled into a sense of independence. This is why Jesus said it’s so hard for wealthy people to see their need for salvation, harder in fact than stringing a live camel through the eye of a needle. Even though the writer is completely committed to God, he knows that given enough money, he’d be tempted to forget God.
2. The author also acknowledges that poverty has its own temptations. He sees that being in a desperate situation might lead to sin that he’d otherwise never consider committing. When your stomach is growling and your children are shivering cold, you find yourself thinking about doing things that you’d never considered before.
3. The blessing of moderation is the ability to experience contentment.  We learn moderation when we decide ahead of time what income level we’d be comfortable with.  By deciding ahead of time, we’re less likely to keep climbing and climbing, for no other reason than to climb higher.

 Evening Reflection

The eighteenth century preacher John Wesley summed up his attitude toward money with this saying: “Earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can.” That’s a pretty good summary of what Proverbs says about how to be wise with our personal finances.  We are to avoid being lazy but also to be aware of being consumed by money.  Tonight, reflect on your attitude towards money, how you have been earning it, how you have been spending it, and how you have been glorifying God with the financial resources He has given you.

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals for September 7-15 are provided by Pastor Mark Chun of Radiance Christian Church (S. F.).

Devotional Thoughts for Today

1 Corinthians 10:12b, 24:

“But we do not use this right. . . . 24 ‘Everything is permissible’—but not everything is beneficial. . . . Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others”

2 Kings 16:2-3 (NIV)

Ahaz . . . followed the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire.

What conservative churches failed to accomplish, social liberals have done it—making smoking an unconscionable act in public.  Their main argument: Smokers have no right to pollute the air that I breathe since second-hand smoke is hazardous to my health!

Ironically, one major argument for legalized abortion, advocated adamantly by this anti smoking crowd, is that every woman has a right to control her own body.  So, while social liberals will curb the “rights” of smokers to protect our lungs, most of them will do nothing to protect the whole person in the womb because women have the right to do whatever they want with their body.

This philosophy stems from the ideas of Margaret Sanger who was the original founder of Planned Parenthood. Sanger wrote that women are enslaved through their reproductive powers by men who dictate and control the standards of sex and morality. “No woman” she said, “can call herself free who does not own and control her own body. No woman can call herself free until she can choose consciously whether she will or will not be a mother.”  This seems eerily close to the reasoning that Ahaz must of have had when deciding to sacrifice his own son.  For power and control, there was no price he was not willing to pay.

As Christians, it is vitally important that we have the right perspective on the issue of abortion.  In the early days of Christianity, a large part of its explosive growth was the fact that it was a haven for women who had given birth to baby girls or simply a baby that seemed weak.  In Roman culture, infanticide was widespread and men forced women to kill unwanted babies through the practice of exposure.  The church was a refuge for these mothers and their newborn children because it recognized the value of life—no matter how small, weak, or helpless.

Today, Christians are again called to be the protectors of life and to help women see the wonderful gift that God has placed inside their womb.  And those who are considering abortion should remember what God says about so-called “our rights”: “Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others” (1 Cor. 12:25b).

Pray that our lawmakers and civil leaders regain their conscience and present viable laws that will, at least, make abortion “rare” (Hillary Clinton).  May our churches respond to women in crisis by offering a real alternative in conjunction with Christian groups, such as National Right to Life, whose mission is to do just that.

Prayer

Father, forgive me for being preoccupied only with my life, my family and my church.  Open my eyes not only to the matter of abortion but to other matters, such as poverty and slavery that destroy lives.  Help me to care—beginning today.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 17

Lunch Break Study

1 Cor. 8: 9-13: But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Ps. 22:10-11: Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. 10 On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. 11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help

Questions to Consider:

1. The Corinthian passage deals with former idol-worshipers who, now, as believers, became stumbled upon seeing Christians eating food that had been sacrificed to idols. What is Paul’s instruction to these “eaters?”
2. Extract the main principle from Paul’s inspired instruction and apply it to the argument that every woman has a right to control her own body.
3. Ultimately, why is that no one has the right to wipe out that which is in the womb of the mother?

Notes

1. “Yes, you have the right to eat whatever you want; I said elsewhere regarding food, ‘Nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving” (1 Tim. 4:4).  But there is something more important than eating: acting lovingly toward our brothers and sisters.  Therefore, if what I do (in this case, eating certain foods) makes them stumble, I won’t do it.”
2. The extracted principle is: I will curb my right to do that which is “permissible” (1 Cor. 10:23) for the good of others.  In other words, seeking the good of others (something legitimate and reasonable, of course) triumphs over the exercise of my rights, particularly when others are affected.
3. The phrase, “From my mother’s womb you have been my God,” would make no sense if we are talking about a glob of tissues.  There are two possible objective points from which life can be considered having begun: at conception or birth.  All other alleged points are arbitrary and subjective, including so-called the “age of viability.”  God’s word indicates at conception, and that’s why abortion cannot be morally defensible because it is taking the life of another human being.

 Evening Reflection

Some advocates of abortion are really clever.  They say to those who oppose them, “Whereas you are concerned over those who are yet born, you don’t care in the least for those children who have been born.”  They may have a point.  What can we do to authentically demonstrate that we care for the living as well?  Perhaps, one powerful expression is adopting orphaned and unwanted children.  I know several Christian families that have provide a loving home for them, and by doing so, they have made the most powerful statement against abortion.  Another way is to sponsor children living in poverty with a monthly support through Christian organizations such as Compassion International or World Vision.  Pray about it.

“And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me” (Matt. 18:5).

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals for September 7-15 are provided by Pastor Mark Chun of Radiance Christian Church (S. F.).

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 Kings 16: 1-6 (NIV)

In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah, Ahaz son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. 2 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God. 3 He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. 4 He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree. 5 Then Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem and besieged Ahaz, but they could not overpower him. 6 At that time, Rezin king of Aram recovered Elath for Aram by driving out the people of Judah. Edomites then moved into Elath and have lived there to this day.

While I squirmed over having to present a morning devotional based on a passage dealing with infanticide, we, as followers of a holy God, need to deal with the horrifying nature of sin, head on.

In reading about the reign of King Ahaz, I think most of us would agree with the biblical assessment that this man did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Faced with the threat of being conquered by his political enemies, Ahaz committed the unthinkable act of sacrificing his son to pagan idols in the hope that they would deliver him from this situation. His desire to maintain power and control overrode any remnant of moral conscience that this man may have had and became his excuse to commit the inexcusable sin of sacrificing his child. And it appears that Ahaz’s idols gave him exactly what he desired: he withstood the attack of the armies of Aram and Israel. However, in the annals of biblical history, this was a victory that felt more like a defeat.

In 1973, there was another victory that seemed rather hollow because it, too, involved the sacrifice of children in a landmark Supreme Court case known as Roe versus Wade. Ironically, some who oppose infanticide do an about-face over feticide, which actually is infanticide unless the humanness of the one in the womb, whether 12 or 32 weeks old, is categorically denied.

This morning, I want to be sensitive to those women who have endured the shame of abortion and offer the forgiveness and healing of Christ. Yet, at the same time, I would like to shed light on this issue. The advocates for on-demand legalized abortion celebrated the decision as a victory for all women, but they forgot to mention the countless children lost as a result of the verdict. And since that decision in 1973, over 50 million abortions have been performed in the United States. Planned Parenthood, an organization that performs most of these abortions, plainly states that one of out of three babies conceived in the United States is deliberately aborted. Over 1 million abortions will be reported in this country this year alone. These aren’t just numbers but real people who could have been our brothers or sisters, brilliant scientists or outstanding theologians.

Maybe you have had an abortion? Confess that sin to Christ and receive His forgiveness and healing. There is no sin that God won’t or can’t forgive.

(I’ll further address this matter in tomorrow’s QT.)

Prayer

Lord, Your word tells us that You have known us from the very moment we were conceived, and that we were wonderfully and fearfully formed in our mother’s womb. Help us to understand the sanctity of life and the awesome privilege of having children who bear Your image.   May You protect our marriages, our families, and especially our children as we live against the tides of this culture. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 16

Lunch Break Study

Matthew 19:13-15 (NIV)

13 Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. 14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. [1]

 

Questions to Consider:

1. Why did the disciples rebuke people for bringing their children to be blessed by Jesus?
2. What is Jesus’ attitude towards the children?
3. What does it mean that the kingdom of heaven belongs to children?

Notes

1. Ancient cultures held children in low-esteem and did not see it worthwhile to go out of their way for them. In addition, the disciples were intent on getting to the next place of ministry and saw this interruption as a hindrance.
2. Jesus’ attitude is completely opposite of the disciples. He gladly takes the time to lay hands and to pray for each child.  As believers, we should treat all children with the same attitude that Jesus did—a s special recipients of God’s love even prior to their personal commitment to Christ.
3. Childlike dependence and innocent faith are the hallmarks of an authentic relationship with our heavenly Father.   Although there may be room for doubt, cynicism and a critical heart can easily poison our walk with God. What this verse does not mean is that all children go to heaven.

 Evening Reflection

I read recently a post from a person, who I thought was a committed follower of Christ, stating that he was indifferent to the subject of abortion. This deeply saddened me because I don’t believe this espouses the heart of God. Although we don’t want to make hot button topics bigger than they are in relation to the Gospel of Christ, at the same time, we must hold unwavering to a Christian worldview and ethic. It is important that we think through our position on many cultural and societal matters and hold fast to the Scriptures as our guide. Take time tonight to ask the Lord to give you clarity on the controversial issues that Christians face and the courage to stand for the truth.

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals for September 5-6 are provided by Christine Li of TRPC (NYC).

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Revelation 3:17-19 “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.”

Of all health checkups that I should get once a year, the appointment I loathe scheduling is with the eye doctor. When growing up, my yearly exams were accompanied by big jumps in my worsening vision. Even though I have maintained the same prescription for years, sometimes I wish I could avoid checkups and the reminder of my poor eyesight. But no matter how unpleasant bad news about my vision may be, proper assessment and correction is still more essential.

Jesus’ condemnation of the church in Laodicea was that the members had such poor vision that they were completely wrong about their spiritual condition. Satisfied by the work of their hands, they thought they were well-off and, as a result, had no hunger to seek God. They were content to carry on without His input, but they remained unaware of how blind and miserable they truly were.

Don’t we, too, do the same thing? Believing that “ignorance is bliss,” we would rather avoid His scrutiny so that we can continue living as we currently do. It is easier to settle for being a “good-enough” Christian and be apathetic to our spiritual condition; however, a heart that wants holiness and God’s standards should be more desirable to us. We need Him to give us an eager heart that discovers and repents of the sin in our lives.

God’s purpose here, of course, is not to give us a hard time or a take-away that our condition is deplorable. Christ reminds us that we can ask for and receive the very things we lack – heavenly riches and robes that cover our shame. He does not intend to correct our vision so we only see our humiliatingly needy souls; our eyes will fall upon the gracious gift of righteousness He provides.

While it can be hard to voluntarily submit ourselves for an examination, let’s trust that this is a joyful opportunity to experience His immeasurable mercy. As we approach Him today, may we ask Him to correct our vision so we can discover His generous love over and over again.
Prayer: Father, I want to see clearly! Keep me from being wise in my own eyes and unaware of my true spiritual state. Help me to encounter You, and let the mercy and grace I receive from You be more precious than the comforts of my tepid, “good-enough” living. Restore in me a heart that fervently seeks You all my days.

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 15

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals for September 5-6 are provided by Christine Li of TRPC (NYC).

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Isaiah 29:13:  The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.”

Growing up, I watched my parents call overseas family members every day. So when I moved away, I picked up a habit of calling home twice a day; however, I can attest that the frequency with which I call my parents has not always been indicative of an extraordinary relationship with them.

Throughout the years, my parents will point out various aspects of our conversations that are lacking– I rush or speak curtly because my mind is elsewhere; I schedule convenient times of my day but never think that these could be inconvenient times for my parents. Yes, I call dutifully, but in prioritizing the routine, I often miss out on the purpose– to spend time, connect, and listen so we can grow in our love for each other.

As I continually reassess how to communicate better with my parents, I am reminded of similar pitfalls in our relationships with God. He, too, saw dutiful people whose hearts were distant; they went through the motions with no enthusiasm to meet with Him. What a tragic picture we would not want mirrored in any of our relationships – polite and structured but lacking warmth and openness.

However, in our modern-day attempts to be faithful, we often schedule God for only certain days of the week or times of the day. We approach Him to quickly pay our respects but do not set out significant time and effort to grow our relationship with Him. Others can be deceived by our devoted appearance, but our hearts and affections are not fully engaged, and our love for Him is dry.

If you feel that your routines have trapped you in a stale, uninspired relationship with God, let’s reassess how to seek Him in a fresh way –have your quiet times in a different place, read through the Word with a friend, or approach Him during a different time of day (after your meals instead of before?). Let’s break out of the habit of reducing our relationship with God into rituals. No matter what adjustments have to be made, we can trust that He is always attentive and will surely meet us when we seek Him with all our heart.

Prayer: Father, I confess that I can fall into a mindless routine of honoring You while withholding my heart. Forgive me for attempting to substitute this costly, precious relationship through Christ with my mindless routines. Fill my heart with joy and delight in You; help me to hold onto that love and walk in step with You day by day.

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 13-14

Editor’s Note: AMI devotionals from August 31-Sept. 4 are written by Pastor Ryun Chang.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 King 15:8-28

In the 38^th year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months. 9 And he did what was evil in the sight of he Lord, as his fathers had done. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin.

10 Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him and struck him down at Ibleam and put him to death and reigned in his place. . . . 13 Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the 39^th year of Uzziah king of Judah, and he reigned one month in Samaria. . . . 18 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart all his days from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin.

14 Then Menahem the son of Gadi came up from Tirzah and came to Samaria, and he struck down Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria and put him to death and reigned in his place. . . . 18 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart all his days from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin.

23 In the 50^th year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned two years. 24 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin.

27 In the 52^nd year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twenty years. 28 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin.

At my college graduation speech in 1984, an African-American pastor E. V. Hill repeatedly cried out Psalm 11:3: “The foundations [of America] are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”  Some 30 years after that speech, the late-pastor would have been shocked to see the secular foundation—with little or no regard for God’s word—supplanting the old.  America, at least at its inception, was led by deistic and Christian founders, thus had a chance; but the Northern Kingdom of Israel never did.

This was the dog days of Israel when unprincipled men, hungry for power, played a deadly game of musical chairs in which each violent succession to the throne hastened its fast-approaching extinction.  After King Pekah, came one more king—Hoshea, and then Israel would be no more at the hands of Assyria in 722 B.C.  During Israel’s 150 years of miserable existence, it’s hard to miss the lasting effect of the “George Washington” of Israel, Jeroboam.  Every king mentioned above failed to “turn away from the sins of Jeroboam . . . which he made Israel to sin.”  What one single leader sowed—a counterfeit religion that rejected God—the entire nation reaped its consequences, generation after generation.

But remember what motivated Jeroboam, an army officer (1 Ki. 11:26) whose sudden rise to the throne introduced him to power and glory that he began to covet: insecurity and greed for power.  It all began with this thought: “The kingdom will likely revert back to the house of David.  If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to . . . Rehoboam king of Judah” (1 Ki. 12:26-7).  It was then that he conjured up the golden calves, fake holy places and priests.

But before worrying about our nation’s foundation, let’s examine our own.  Perhaps you’re a young parent or small group leader—even if you aren’t right now, maybe you will become one in the future.   Work on your foundation— it starts with Jesus (1 Cor. 3:11) and continues with putting His Words “into practice” (Matt. 7:24).  Give up your insecurity through intimacy with Christ and die to your greed by practicing generosity with your valuables.  Then pray for America.

Prayer

Father, constantly remind me that what I do matters to others in life.  Instill in me a healthy fear of You so that I do not depart from my spiritual mooring.  O, my Lord, fill me with your Spirit so that I may have the power to choose You and Your path over my selfish desires. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 12

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Cor. 3:10-15: According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

Luke 14:27-30: Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, “This man began to build and was not able to finish.”

Matt. 7:24-27: Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.

Question to Consider

1. If I declare that Jesus is my foundation, what does that really imply?
2. What does it mean to build on the foundation of Christ?
3. Spiritually, what would constitute combustible materials such as “wood, hay and straw”?  Evaluate the way you live your life in light of your answer.

Notes

1. It implies that not only do I say I believe in Christ (the foundation), but I will also do what He taught (building on that foundation; that is, living rightly for Christ).
2. First, to think soberly about my life from the standpoint of eternity; then second, commit to a life of self-denial to follow Christ and to serve Him.
3. These materials refer to things that we do for ourselves so that we get our glory here and now. Thus, Jesus said, regarding the showy Pharisees who did their “’acts of righteousness’ before men”: “They have received their reward in full” (Matt. 6:1-2).  In other words, there will be no rewards waiting for them in heaven (that is, if they made it there at all).

 Evening Reflection

What sort of spiritual foundation have you developed in life?  For instance, how consistently and seriously do you engage with AMI’s daily devotional?  Do you have a prayer life?  Do you consistently dig into God’s word? How are you dealing with your insecurities?  Are you overtly greedy for material things and/or power?  Too many questions?  Then, just get on your knees and cry out to God: “Lord, help me to build a house that will not burn down on the judgment day!”

Editor’s Note: AMI devotionals from August 31-Sept. 4 are written by Pastor Ryun Chang.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 King 15:1-5: In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign. 2 He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jekoliah; she was from Jerusalem. 3 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done. 4 The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.5 The Lord afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, and he lived in a separate house. Jotham the king’s son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.

While reading about Billy Graham’s grandson, a pastor, who recently resigned from his church after admitting an affair, I was reminded of “The Graham rule” in which the famed evangelist had vowed to never meet, eat, or travel with a woman alone. However, this sensible approach for married men—to avoid a potentially compromising situation—often isn’t so sensible to some women seeking to advance in the Christian ministry, because some men won’t meet with them one-on-one to talk about ministry-related projects and businesses.

So what does this have to do with Azariah? First, doesn’t it seem like this narrative is missing something? Why did God afflict a righteous king with leprosy—the most accursed disease–that led to a lengthy solitary confinement? For that, we need to rely on the Chronicler who noted the following about the king, a.k.a., Uzziah: first, “he sought God” (2 Chron. 27:5); second, “he had become very powerful” because his “well-trained army” (11) defeated all enemy nations; and third, through his innovative economic programs, Judah prospered greatly (9-10). So, what came of this? “After Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall” (16), which reached its apex when he “entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense” (16). By that action alone, Uzziah completely dissed God who allowed no one but the priests to enter the temple. And that’s when “the LORD had afflicted him” (20).

All social movements are a mixed bag: some have produced better results than others but none is beyond reproach—and that certainly includes the Women’s Rights movement. It is indeed a bad idea for married men to meet a woman alone, regardless of the gravity of the matter, for nothing positive will come out of this, eventually. So, I say to the naysayers to back off, but do bring a friend.

Men, if you ignore this warning, as if you think you’re stronger than the former CEO of General Electric, Jack Welch, who fell for a woman journalist interviewing him in his office, or a Mexican friend pastor who impregnated a woman he was counseling also in his office, I would say you are prideful—just like Uzziah was when he entered the temple. And remember: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). Meet, yes—but never alone.

Prayer

Lord, please keep me from a prideful heart so that I won’t act like a fool. Fill me with Your Spirit so that I may overcome alluring temptations. In fact, Lord, may you fill me with wisdom so that I may avoid potentially compromising situations where temptations await. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 11

Lunch Break Study

Read Numbers 12:1-10: Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. 2 And they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it. 3 Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth. 4 And suddenly the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting.” And the three of them came out. 5 And the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward. 6 And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. 7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” 9 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed. 10 When the cloud removed from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, like snow. And Aaron turned toward Miriam, and behold, she was leprous.

Eph. 4:15, 25: Rather, speaking the truth in love. . . . Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

Question to Consider

1. What made it easier for Aaron and Miriam to become prideful and speak against Moses?
2. What are some qualities which Moses possessed that are highly valued by the LORD?
3. Some may use this event to say that no one should say anything against their spiritual leaders. Then what should we do when we don’t agree with our leaders?

Notes

1. Remembering that Moses was their younger brother, perhaps they momentarily gave into the thought that they were more mature than he. Of course, his marriage to a Gentile woman, which they thought was a mistake, may have made them feel morally superior over Moses, even though God was silent on this matter.
2. Meekness, faithfulness and a compassionate heart (as Moses earnestly asked God to heal his sister).
3. Whether we speak to leaders or those who serve under us about anything, including disagreements, we always put off falsehood (being fair and objective) and speak the truth in love (not to hurt or win but to settle for that which honors God and beneficial for everyone involved).

 Evening Reflection

Every day we are insulted by someone or we insult others—in varying degrees. So in looking back to today, how did you handle these situations? Did you hurl back when you felt insulted or did you enjoy insulting others? Be silent and ask the Lord to speak to you. Allow the Spirit to cleanse you of any bitterness and resentment. Ask God to give you a better day tomorrow.

Editor’s Note: AMI devotionals from August 31-Sept. 4 are written by Pastor Ryun Chang.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 King 14:23-29

In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, began to reign in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. 24 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin. 25 He restored the border of Israel from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath-hepher. 26 For the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter, for there was none left, bond or free, and there was none to help Israel. 27 But the Lord had not said that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, so he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash. 28 Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam and all that he did, and his might, how he fought, and how he restored Damascus and Hamath to Judah in Israel, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 29 And Jeroboam slept with his fathers . . .

Jeremiah (12:1) once complained to God, saying, “Why does the way of the wicked prosper?” Perhaps, he thought of Jeroboam II whose penchant for evil rivaled that of his predecessor Jeroboam I who, to avoid losing his power, introduced a counterfeit religion to Israel (i.e., worshiping golden calves, non-levitical priesthood) “that led to . . . its destruction” (1 Ki. 13:34).  And for that, God rightfully punished him (14:10-13).

When compared to how God treated Jeroboam II, however, maybe Jeroboam I got a raw deal because God, instead of punishing Jeroboam II, blessed him like no other kings before or after him.  Under his regime, Israel enlarged its territory like never before, extending its border as far as the Sea of Arabah near Jordon and Damascus.  And according to Amos (1:1) who prophesied during this period, it was a time of unprecedented economic prosperity.  People had winter as well as summer mansions adorned with ivory (3:15); they “dine[d] on choice lambs and fattened calves” (6:4). As for the king himself, unlike other evil kings who suffered a tragic ending, he died peacefully (2 Ki. 14:29).

So, why did God bless Jeroboam II and Israel despite their continued rebellion?  He was calling them to repent!  Now, this may come as a surprise to those who equate God’s call to repentance to warnings of dire consequences if not complied to.  While that is not untrue, we mustn’t forget that God is always “kind to the ungrateful and wicked” (Lk. 6:35), thereby giving them an opportunity to experience His unmerited favor (i.e., grace) that would elicit the kind of response the fisherman Peter had upon realizing that the man responsible for his large haul of fish was the Christ: “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man” (5:8).

Unfortunately, Israel’s response was just the opposite: Thinking that they deserved everything they got, they fell into pride and callousness.  And that’s when God came with a sword: “I abhor the pride of Jacob and detest his fortresses; I will deliver up the city and everything in it” (Amos 6:8).

One word of advice: Respond to God when He is being “nice” to us!  Repent. Today.

Prayer

God, how awesome it is to be given this privilege of knowing and worshiping You.  How amazing it is that You show the best of Your grace when I deserve it the least.  I am in awe of your unfathomable ways in which You continue to favor me on account of your Son Jesus Christ.  Thank you.

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 10

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 2:3-4: Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

2 Cor. 6:1: Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

Jude 1:4: For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

Question to Consider

1. What is the spiritual logic behind God’s kindness leading us to repentance?
2. Describe what God was doing for Jereboam II and Israel by blessing them in accordance to Romans 2:3-4?
3. What is the worst thing we can do with God’s grace? How are you handling it at the moment?

Notes

1. When we do wrong, our conscience (unless it has been desensitized) is bothered and we expect to be caught and then punished. Let’s assume that a policeman stopped you for a traffic violation.  But instead of issuing the ticket, he gives you a pep talk about safe driving and a piece of bubble gum to boot—now, that’s kindness!  And when the officer is leaving and says, “Drive safely,” we say, “Yes sir!”
2. God was forbearing, being kind and patient with Jeroboam II and Israel so that they would repent.
3. The worst thing we can do with God’s grace is to receive it in vain and then abuse it with this type of thinking: “Since He is not willing to punish me for my sins, I’m going to continue in them.” Don’t forget: “You may be sure that sin will find you out” (Num. 32:23).

 Evening Reflection

In the same way that fish may not be conscious of water that surrounds it, we may not be all that conscious of God’s grace and mercy which we receive from Him daily.  Look back to this day and recall the times when it was evident that God was being gracious and merciful to you.  Thank Him.

Editor’s Note: AMI devotionals from August 31-Sept. 4 are written by Pastor Ryun Chang.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 King 14:8-14

Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us look one another in the face.” 9 And Jehoash king of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah, “A thistle on Lebanon sent to a cedar on Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son for a wife,’ and a wild beast of Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thistle. 10 You have indeed struck down Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Be content with your glory, and stay at home, for why should you provoke trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?” 11 But Amaziah would not listen. So Jehoash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another in battle at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 12 And Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his home. 13 And Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash, son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and came to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem for four hundred cubits, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. 14 And he seized all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king’s house, also hostages, and he returned to Samaria.

A hungry python, upon seeing a large porcupine, ate it—but later died because he couldn’t digest its final meal.  Since the snake had probably eaten bigger preys before, he didn’t think much of swallowing the porcupine, not realizing that this one came with quills that would lodge inside the digestive tract. Ouch!

Likewise, King Amaziah of Judah felt unstoppable and invincible after knocking off “ten thousand Edomites . . . and captur[ing] Sela in battle” (v. 7).  Then, brimming with confidence, he challenged Jehoash, the king of Israel, who responded, in effect: “Enjoy your little victories but don’t bark up the wrong tree.”   But Amaziah didn’t back off— he should have because Jehoash finished him off in the first round.  The victor then bullied his way into Jerusalem and took “everything but the kitchen sink.”  In the end, both the python and Amaziah dearly paid for having bitten off more than they could chew.

We love slogans that imbue confidence such as “the sky is the limit” or “I can do anything if I put my mind to it.”  But God’s word is more measured, for Romans 12:3 states: “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”  In short, recognize your God-given limits and don’t overestimate your ability.

Our tendency, however, is to set limits for ourselves without even trying to find out the talents and gifts God has given us.  A while back, a young woman aspiring to be a writer spoke to me about something I had written for Korea Times newspaper.  At that time she was writing technical manuals, a job she disliked, and when I exhorted her to work on stories that could be published locally, she said, “I’m afraid of being rejected.”

While we shouldn’t bite off more than we can chew, we should certainly chew all that we can— meaning, we ought to diligently develop all that God has given us to serve the body.  As we get better at it and people appreciate our effort, we should be content that unbelievers are finding Christ and the believers growing spiritually.

Prayer

Lord, how great is thy Name and how wonderful are thy works! God, show me my limits, weaknesses and inadequacies; then show me Your infinity, strength, and adequacy.  Give me wisdom to rely on You and not on myself to live this life to the glory of your Son Jesus Christ.

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 9

Lunch Break Study

Read Acts 19:13-16: Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Matt. 20:21-22: Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

2 Thess. 3:10: If a man will not work, he shall not eat.

Question to Consider

1. How are the sons of Sceva similar to King Amaziah and the python? What did they fail to understand?
2. How are the sons of Zebedee similar to King Amaziah and the python? What did they fail to understand?
3. What is often the problem for many people who want something but end up biting more than they can chew?

Notes

1. I suppose casting out evil spirits from demonized people looked easy to the sons of Sceva and impressive as well; therefore, they simply imitated what others did to their great embarrassment. They didn’t take the time to understand the spiritual dimension involved in doing something like this such as praying, holiness, authority of Christ, etc.
2. The sons of Zebedee, clueless about what kind of kingdom Jesus was about to establish, took it for granted that they were the best administrators in what they thought was a literal kingdom of Israel. They, no doubt, thought that whatever the cup represented was something they could easily handle; little did they know that it was going to bring martyrdom (James would die young) and exile (John to Patmos).
3. Many of us aren’t willing to work hard to be able to do God’s work—we want everything to come easy. Yes, it is by grace and the Spirit but there are plenty of things we need to do—like developing a habit of prayer, depositing God’s words into our minds, understanding the spiritual authority in Christ, learning a new language well if you are a missionary, etc.

 Evening Reflection

How is your self-esteem?  Is it based on impressing people with your ability or commitment?  One reason we bite more than we can chew is to impress people as a way of dealing with our insecurity.  How did you fare today?  Did you engage in self-boasting or exaggerating your glorious past?  Our security comes from our deep relationship with God in which we sense our worth in God’s infinite love toward us expressed through putting His own Son on the cross to redeem us.