Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT devotionals from August 17-23 are provided by Pastor Yohan Lee of Radiance Christian Church (S.F.).

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 Kings 8:16-19

In the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab, king of Israel, when Jehoshaphat was king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, began to reign. 17 He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 18 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. 19 Yet the Lord was not willing to destroy Judah, for the sake of David his servant, since he promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever.

When I was a kid, I hated when my parents would tell me to stop hanging out with a such and such friend because they perceived him to be a bad influence on me.  Of course, as a kid, I didn’t believe that people were that easily influenced (certainly not me). And besides, I was probably the worst influence in the neighborhood.

Now that I am a parent, I am shocked at how my thinking has done a 180 degree turn on the matter.  There is this one boy in our neighborhood whom I wish my kids would steer clear away from—I find myself constantly thinking this kid is such a bad influence on my son.  In fact, I cannot help but feel that every time my son comes home from hanging out with him, he’s picked up some more attitude and is more prone to say things like, “What the heck!”  The truth of the matter is that I just want to blame my son’s attitude and semi-potty mouth on others, and not come to grips with the fact that my boy is a genuine sinner.  That is, what I once believed—that good kids do good things while the bad ones do bad—isn’t true.  So as a sinner, all children are prone to disobedience, but it is also true that their sinfulness is augmented by influences (i.e., environment) around them.

I think this is the point that the Scripture writer was making when he discussed Jehoram’s alliances.  Jehoram was clearly a wicked king who “walked in the way of the kings of Israel,” but his wickedness was augmented by his alliances, particularly his wife, the daughter of Ahab (one of the most wicked kings of Israel).  It would be incorrect to assume that had Jehoram not married Ahab daughters, he would have been fine—just like it is wrong to blame others for our shortcomings.  Sure, others can be bad influences on us or some others may know how to push our buttons in just the right way, but at the end of the day, we need to take responsibility for what lies within our hearts.

That being said, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals’” (1 Cor. 15:33). Ahab’s wife probably did not help Jehoram to honor and serve the God of Israel.  We must understand that some of our relationships will not help us to grow in the Lord either; therefore, be wise with the company you keep.

Prayer

Lord, change my heart so that the fruit of my life will reflect a tree that is good.  Help me to be responsible for myself and my actions and never to blame others.  Also, help me to keep good company.

Bible Reading for Today: Ephesians 5

Lunch Break Study

Luke 6:43-45:

“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Questions to Consider

1. What good fruit do you see in your personal life/character?
2. What good fruit do you see in your ministry?
3. Are there bad batches of fruit that come out of your life that need correcting?

Notes

1. This is a reflective question, but I want you to think about your character and who you are or are becoming. How is your family doing?  How is your marriage?  These are some areas of personal fruit which come from either a good/bad tree.
2. Are people growing as a result of your ministry (either formal ministry or informal)? Does your ministry help the church?
3. What are some areas that you are having struggles? Perhaps, the list includes anger, materialism, lust, judgmental thoughts, etc. Bring these before the Lord and ask him to prune the tree.

 Evening Reflection

Similar to this afternoon’s study, how is your personal life, character, and ministry doing?  Are you bearing good fruit?  Did you blame others for the things that may have been your own doing?  What areas of your life and character would you like to change for God’s glory?

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT devotionals from August 17-23 are provided by Pastor Yohan Lee of Radiance Christian Church (S.F.).

Devotional Thoughts for Today

1 Kings 8:10-13

And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover,’ but[a] the Lord has shown me that he shall certainly die.”11 And he fixed his gaze and stared at him, until he was embarrassed. And the man of God wept. 12 And Hazael said, “Why does my lord weep?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel. You will set on fire their fortresses, and you will kill their young men with the sword and dash in pieces their little ones and rip open their pregnant women.” 13 And Hazael said, “What is your servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?” Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that you are to be king over Syria.”

Do you have friends who fit the description, “He has no shame?” (I hope you aren’t one of them.) Let me describe this type of person: a friend with no shame will consistently come over for dinner unannounced; he is generally looking for freebies; he does not filter his conversation topics; and he can generally be counted on to do uncouth things in social settings. Sometimes shameless people are so because they are socially clueless, but others are this way because they simply don’t care what others think. Sometimes, I wish I were like the latter group.

I used to think that shame was something that I suffered because I was insecure in some aspect of my life. So if I was ashamed to talk about my faith at work, it would probably be because I was insecure in myself and my relationship with Christ, and I didn’t want my co-workers to think of me as some religious fanatic. So I always just assumed that as I grew in the Lord, feeling embarrassed and the fear of shame would slowly be crucified in the cross. However, as I look at today’s passage, I realize that there are redemptive qualities to shame. What we see in this passage is that when Hazael was confronted with the sin he was planning, he was so embarrassed he could not even look at Elisha. Unfortunately, not even the shame he felt stopped him from assassinating Ben-Hadad, but the point is that sometimes when we are about to commit sin, there can be a feeling of shame and embarrassment. We also see that after Adam and Eve fall in Genesis 3, they attempt to cover themselves, as they feel shame for the first time.

Ultimately, I don’t think that the fear of being embarrassed should be our primary motivation for living a good life in Christ, but to be completely truthful, every once in a while, we all need a little fear to motivate us. If you have been struggling with something in your life, and the love of Christ is not having the effect it should, maybe you should try thinking of how embarrassing it would be to explain later. For example, if you surf too much internet at work, consider how embarrassing it would be to tell your boss that the quarterly report is late because you were too busy working a trade for your fantasy football team. If we are going to feel shame, let’s at least redeem it for God’s glory!

Prayer

Lord, the truth is, that because of your righteousness which You give to me, I have nothing to be ashamed. Today, help me to live in a way that honors You.

Bible Reading for Today: Ephesians 4

Lunch Break Study

Psalm 25:1-7

In you, Lord my God,

I put my trust.

2 I trust in you;

do not let me be put to shame,

nor let my enemies triumph over me.

3 No one who hopes in you

will ever be put to shame,

but shame will come on those

who are treacherous without cause. 

4 Show me your ways, Lord,

teach me your paths.

5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are God my Savior,

and my hope is in you all day long.

6 Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,

for they are from of old.

7 Do not remember the sins of my youth

and my rebellious ways;

according to your love remember me,

for you, Lord, are good.

Questions to Consider

1. What do you think the psalmists means when he says that “No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame?” Is it literal or spiritual?
2. What is the theme of verses 4-7? How is this related to shame?

Notes

1. Many times Christians do feel shame for their faith. Some will feel the persecution of standing for Christ in this country, while others have had to suffer undignified treatment because of faith in Christ. Shame before man and shame before God can be two different things. Those who trust in God will never have to stand before Him ashamed.
2. Continuing on the point above, those who live rightly before the Lord and hope in Him will never have to stand before the Lord ashamed as even their sins will not be counted against them (v. 7).

 Evening Reflection

Did you walk with integrity today? Did you work an honest day and honor the Lord in all you did and said? Was there anything for which you were embarrassed? Do you see the Lord’s grace even in your shortcomings and are you secure as His child?

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT devotionals from August 17-23 are provided by Pastor Yohan Lee of Radiance Christian Church (S.F.).

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 Kings 8:1-6

Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, and depart with your household, and sojourn wherever you can, for the Lord has called for a famine, and it will come upon the land for seven years.” 2 So the woman arose and did according to the word of the man of God. She went with her household and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years. 3 And at the end of the seven years, when the woman returned from the land of the Philistines, she went to appeal to the king for her house and her land. 4 Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, “Tell me all the great things that Elisha has done.” 5 And while he was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life appealed to the king for her house and her land. And Gehazi said, “My lord, O king, here is the woman, and here is her son whom Elisha restored to life.” 6 And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed an official for her, saying, “Restore all that was hers, together with all the produce of the fields from the day that she left the land until now.”

How do you view coincidences? Do you see them as good or bad fortune, or do you see them as God intervening in your life? Several years back, I had a very small incident in my life that got me thinking about this question. I was in seminary and on one night I was finishing up a paper. The paper was due the next day around 6:00 pm, and I was done around midnight the night before, so I had plenty of time. I decided to submit it that evening, but for whatever reason the school’s system for uploading documents electronically was down. The next morning when I woke up, I decided to look over my work one more time before submitting it. It was a good thing I did that because not only I hadn’t proofread it but I forgot to finish my last paragraph. Needless to say, I was glad that I was not able to submit my paper the night before. I later found out that my school’s system for electronic submissions shuts down for several hours each night; that is why I was unable to make my original submission. In the grand scheme of life, the grade I got on a paper in seminary is not that important, but at the same time, I still felt the Lord’s incredible care in this whole incident. The truth is that it would have annoyed me to no end to have gotten a “B” on a paper simply because I forgot to proofread. Through these little coincidences, I realized that our God is not “so big” and “too” important to bless his children in even little ways. Some of us think that God is in only willing to act in huge life events, but I think we need to learn to see his care in everyday moments. We also have to choose to see him working in big and small “coincidences”.

If you recall, we were first introduced to this Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4, where this previously childless woman is not only given a son, but years after his birth, this son is brought back to life after dying from a mysterious head injury. Now several years later, after she had deserted her homeland in order to survive a famine, she found herself in the precarious position of having to beg for her lands back from the king. Now, if you were the king, would you be favorably disposed to giving the land back to this woman, who deserted your country during the rough times, but was now coming back when things got better? I wouldn’t! Of course, God was not going to allow this Shunammite woman to lose everything. So he sent Gehazi, the former aid to Elisha to the king to tell stories of his former master’s exploits, and right as Gehazi tells the story of the Shunammite woman whose son was raised from the dead, in she walks. Crazy coincidence? Or was God once again watching out for this Shunammite woman? I hope you can cultivate the faith to see things as the later, not only for the Shunammite woman, but yourself as well.

Prayer

Lord, give me the faith to see that You are constantly working and moving in great and small ways. Help me to trust in Your sovereign plan and to believe that You are good. Help me to see Your presence in my life today.

Bible Reading for Today: Ephesians 3

Lunch Break Study

Psalm 139:1-16:

O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

   you discern my thoughts from afar.

3 You search out my path and my lying down

   and are acquainted with all my ways.

4 Even before a word is on my tongue,

   behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

5 You hem me in, behind and before,

   and lay your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

   it is high; I cannot attain it

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?

   Or where shall I flee from your presence?

8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!

 If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

9 If I take the wings of the morning

   and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10 even there your hand shall lead me,

   and your right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,

   and the light about me be night,”

12 even the darkness is not dark to you;

   the night is bright as the day,

   for darkness is as light with you.

13 For you formed my inward parts;

   you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.[a]

Wonderful are your works;

   my soul knows it very well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you,

when I was being made in secret,

   intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

in your book were written, every one of them,

   the days that were formed for me,

   when as yet there was none of them.

Questions to Consider

1. What is the theme of verses 1-6? How is this supposed to encourage or bless you?
2. What is the theme of verses 7-12? How is this supposed to encourage or bless you?
3. What is the theme of verses 13-16? How is this supposed to encourage or bless you?

Notes

1. In verses 1-6, the psalmist points to the Lord’s intimate knowledge of him, and to a lesser extent, the Lord’s knowledge of all that he has and will do. It’s comforting to know that God knows every good and bad thing we have done, and He still loves us and knows what is ahead of us.
2. Verses 7-12 point toward the fact that we can never escape the Lord’s presence. Or to put it more positively, we are never out of the Lord’s sight or reach.
3. Verses 13-16 show us that we were carefully crafted by the Lord. He is our Maker, and we are His precious children.

 Evening Reflection

Did you feel the Lord’s care and presence over your life today? Did you see Him work in either a small way or big way? Does such love and care motivate you to tell others and serve the Lord?

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT devotionals from Aug. 9-16 are provided by Cami King, a staff at Journey Community Church (Raleigh).

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 Kings 7:15-20 

¹⁵ They went after them to the Jordan, and behold, all the way was full of clothes and equipment which the Arameans had thrown away in their haste. Then the messengers returned and told the king.

¹⁶ So the people went out and plundered the camp of the Arameans. Then a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord. ¹⁷ Now the king appointed the royal officer on whose hand he leaned to have charge of the gate; but the people trampled on him at the gate, and he died just as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him. ¹⁸ It happened just as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, “Two measures of barley for a shekel and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, will be sold tomorrow about this time at the gate of Samaria.” ¹⁹ Then the royal officer answered the man of God and said, “Now behold, if the Lord should make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?” And he said, “Behold, you will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat of it.” ²⁰ And so it happened to him, for the people trampled on him at the gate and he died.

We talked yesterday about the joy that comes from experiencing the fulfillment of God’s promises in our lives. Often times we have to wait – sometimes until we reach eternity with Him – to experience the manifestation of promises God has made. But there are those precious and holy moments when, in our own lifetime, we see God make good on His word.

On the converse side, there are people for whom this is not the case. The king’s royal officer (as an extension of the king himself) was not given the privilege of enjoying the blessing of God’s promise fulfilled for Israel (bread in the midst of famine). Because of doubt in God’s promises and in God Himself, the official missed out on partaking in God’s blessing. This is not the first time we see this happening in scripture. When God’s people lose heart and lose hope, we can sometimes cut ourselves off from experiencing the fullness of the work that God is doing in, through, and around us.

If you’ve been a Christian for a while, you’ve probably heard someone talk about “missing out on God’s best” in your life. What this means is, regardless of what our reasoning may be, we can (like the king and his royal officer) position ourselves in such a way that we are unable to partake fully in the blessings that God so desperately desires to bestow upon us. More often than not this happens because we are unwilling to let go of our own imaginings of what can be, our own plans for the future, and ultimately our own understanding.

One pastor tells the following story – “My family and I recently got back from a cross country trip to LA, and in the name of preserving our sanity, we gave our kids a bundle of Apple products to play with on the trip. My old iPhone became my son’s obsession (Nothing makes you feel like a better parent than being at the Grand Canyon and all your 7yr old can talk about is how much he needs to charge his iPhone). To the point where as soon as we got home, we had to take it away and hide it from him. Because we love him, we took the phone away, before it destroyed his ability to enjoy anything else. The sad part is that my son has something better than my old iPhone. He has me. He’s my son, I’m his dad. And even though I fall short in so many ways, our relationship is worth so much more than an old iPhone. I’m the one who even made it possible for him to have an iPhone in the first place.”

Much like children, we can hold too tightly to our own way of doing and seeing and risk missing out on God’s best for us. Of course, there is grace and God will be faithful even when we are not. Yet with that said, the abovementioned sentiments should give us pause. May we not hinder ourselves in any ways from experiencing God’s best. May we hold our lives with open hands, willing to trust in God’s way over and against our own.

Prayer: Gracious Father, help me to follow you faithfully and always position myself to receive Your best for me. Help to lean not on my own understanding or my own desires or my own ways of doing things. Help me to lean exclusively on You and Your power and willingness to fulfill your good promises to me.

Bible Reading for Today: Ephesians 2

 

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT devotionals from Aug. 9-15 are provided by Cami King, a staff at Journey Community Church (Raleigh).

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 Kings 7:15-20

They went after them to the Jordan, and behold, all the way was full of clothes and equipment which the Arameans had thrown away in their haste. Then the messengers returned and told the king. 16 So the people went out and plundered the camp of the Arameans. Then a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord. 17 Now the king appointed the royal officer on whose hand he leaned to have charge of the gate; but the people trampled on him at the gate, and he died just as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him. 18 It happened just as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, “Two measures of barley for a shekel and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, will be sold tomorrow about this time at the gate of Samaria.” 19 Then the royal officer answered the man of God and said, “Now behold, if the Lord should make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?” And he said, “Behold, you will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat of it.” 20 And so it happened to him, for the people trampled on him at the gate and he died.

The title heading chosen by translators for the section of the text above is “The Promised Fulfilled.” Those are some of the sweetest words in scripture. How glorious is the day when we see God’s promises come to fruition right before our eyes. One of the most difficult aspects of keeping the faith and continuing to hope when the going gets tough is how heavily it requires us to depend on God’s promises and believe in things not yet seen. And the longer the difficulty and opposition persists, the more room we have to doubt that God’s promises will ever come to pass. And sometime after a while we forget what His promises are all together.

God had promised deliverance for His people through the prophet Elisha – but not everyone believed him. How could God do this impossible thing of which Elisha spoke? But He did the very thing He promised – He fed His people in the midst of a famine, through the four lepers we read about yesterday. God had done exactly what he said He would do and it was a day of rejoicing for His people. Well – for some of them. For the doubters, God allowed them to see His promises fulfilled, although not to partake in them personally. That’s a tragedy we’ll have to save to discuss another day.

For today, let’s be reminded that God always makes good on what He has promised. Whether He has promised things about His character (“The LORD’S loving-kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23), or made promises to us as the Church (“…He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6) or to you as His child (“…for He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, now will I ever forsake you,” Hebrews 13:5) – through scripture or through the mouths of brothers and sisters in Christ – God will do what He says.

Our Daily Bread wrote the following story: “An elderly Christian was in much distress as he lay dying. ‘Oh, Pastor,’ he said, ‘for years I have relied upon the promises of God, but now in the hour of death I can’t remember a single one to comfort me.’ Knowing that Satan was disturbing him, the preacher said, ‘My brother, do you think that GOD will forget any of His promises?’ A smile came over the face of the dying believer as he exclaimed joyfully. ‘No, no! He won’t! Praise the Lord, now I can fall asleep in Jesus and trust Him to remember them all and bring me safely to Heaven.’ Peace flooded his soul, and a short time later he was ushered by the angels into the light of God’s eternal day.

God’s promises never fail. And even when we grow tired of believing or forget what He has promised in the face of difficult situations, we can rest assured that God will never forget. And when it’s all said and done we will be able to affirm the truth of Joshua’s words, “You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.” (Joshua 23:14).

Prayer: “Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me in a level path… I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27: 11, 13) Help me to wait for You God, to be strong and take heart and wait for You to fulfill Your good promises to me. In Jesus’ name.

Bible Reading for Today: Galatians 6 & Ephesians 1

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT devotionals from Aug. 9-15 are provided by Cami King, a staff at Journey Community Church (Raleigh).

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 Kings 7:3-8

 

Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, “Why do we sit here until we die? 4 If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ then the famine is in the city and we will die there; and if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they spare us, we will live; and if they kill us, we will but die.” 5 They arose at twilight to go to the camp of the Arameans; when they came to the outskirts of the camp of the Arameans, behold, there was no one there. 6 For the Lord had caused the army of the Arameans to hear a sound of chariots and a sound of horses, even the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.” 7 Therefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents and their horses and their donkeys, even the camp just as it was, and fled for their life. 8 When these lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they entered one tent and ate and drank, and carried from there silver and gold and clothes, and went and hidthem; and they returned and entered another tent and carried from there also, and went and hid them.

It takes a special kind of person to keep on fighting with his back against a wall. When I stop to reflect on the lives of the younger and the older folks in my life, one of the greatest differences I see between the generations coming after me and those that came before me is a level of stick-to-itiveness that kept the latter in the fight when all the signs pointed to defeat.

For the men in our story today, life had dealt a pretty awful hand. For starters, they were lepers – terminally ill and perpetually unclean. They were also living in what scholars consider to be one of the darkest times in Israel’s history. As we’ve been reading together through Kings, things just aren’t going so well for God’s people. And to top it all off, they were in the middle of a famine. Verse 4 lists the options of these lepers as: (1) stay and die, (2) enter the city and die, (3) go to the enemies camp and likely die, but maybe not (if they show mercy).  Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place.

But in response to a less than desirable situation they declare, “Why do we sit here until we die?” In other words – they keep at it, keep pushing, keep hoping. And not just in their hearts – they take practical steps of hope in their difficult situation, leaving room for God to move in ways that only He can.

One of the things I find myself fighting against most these days is the tendency to give up when the going gets tough. Too often we get to a place where things are not how we thought they’d be or how we feel they should be, we are miserable and unhappy, and we find ourselves in what we imagine any rational person would describe as a hopeless situation. It is in these moments that many of us (pardon my vernacular) simply punk out on God. We give up and check out. We pout and sulk and rage and complain. We do anything but hope.

Yet these are precisely the places where God does His best work. These are the times when His glory is most clearly displayed in our lives. If we continue to hope and take steps of faith, we create room for God to do the amazing things that far exceed our imagination, as He makes good on His promised faithfulness to us.

Prayer: Lord, help me to press on when the going gets tough. Give me the stamina of heart to continue to hope when all signs point to a hopeless situation. Help me to position myself to see Your glory displayed in my life in ways that far exceed what I could ask, think, or imagine.

Bible Reading for Today: Galatians 5

Lunch Break Study

Ephesians 3:14-21

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom [every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.  20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Questions to Consider:

1. Why is it important that God strengthens us “according to the riches of His glory”?
2. How might verse 20 be an encouragement to believers in seemingly hopeless situations?
3. How can we position ourselves to allow God’s glory to shine in us (the church) when it comes to difficult circumstances?

Notes:

1. The Christian life requires a lot of strength, but it’s not the kind of strength that we can muster up on our own. It is the kind of supernatural strength that flows directly from the storehouses of heaven, from the very being of God Himself.
2. There is no such thing as a hopeless situation because God can do more than what we might ask or even think. The only place of hopelessness is apart from Him and His work in the world. Furthermore, God’s power is at work within our very being– so we ourselves are stronger and more resilient than we often think. This should bring us great encouragement.
3. We can position ourselves to display God’s glory in tough times by standing firm with God – keeping hope alive and pressing on in faithful obedience. In so doing, we make ourselves available vessels to the power of the Holy Spirit and become witnesses to his glory displayed in our lives.

 Evening Reflection

What if the lepers from our passage for this morning had not gone to the enemy’s camp? What if they’d believed their situation was truly hopeless and thrown in the towel and resigned themselves to just sit there until death came? They would have missed the salvation of the Lord – not only for themselves but also for their entire nation. What are the seemingly hopeless situations in your life? How are you handling them – with hope or with defeat? Who stands to be blessed and experience God’s glory in your life by your willingness to press on when the going gets tough? Spend some time reflecting on these things. Pray and ask the Lord to give you a heart that truly (and practically) hopes in Him – regardless of the circumstance.

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT devotionals from Aug. 9-15 are provided by Cami King, a staff at Journey Community Church (Raleigh).

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 Kings 6:18-23

¹⁸ When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Strike this people with blindness, I pray.” So He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.¹⁹ Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he brought them to Samaria.

²⁰ When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the Lord opened their eyes and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. ²¹ Then the king of Israel when he saw them, said to Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?” ²² He answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” ²³ So he prepared a great feast for them; and when they had eaten and drunk he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the marauding bands of Arameans did not come again into the land of Israel.

I can only remember two times in my life having what I would describe as an enemy. The most memorable was a boy in my 5^th grade class who just wouldn’t leave me alone. Finally, at the end of the school year, I’d had enough – when he took his teasing too far, I chased him all the way to the playground, socked him a good one, and shoved his head in the sand underneath the tire swings. Needless to say, he stopped bothering me after that. And now we can look back on the whole thing and laugh.

In our story for today, Elisha and the people of Israel have an opportunity to get even with their enemies. Through God’s power at work in Elisha, Israel’s enemies, the Arameans, are struck blind and led right into the middle of Israel’s camp. At this point (blind and in their enemy’s camp), the Arameans could easily have been captured and killed. But Elisha chooses a different way. Not only does Israel not put the Aramean army to death – they show them great hospitality and bless them before sending them on their way.

It’s not often that the average person has enemies in the conventional sense – but we all have people who are far from “friends” in our lives. Whether it’s an annoying person at work or the relative who always has something negative to say or even institutions that make life more difficult – for all of us a name or two likely comes to mind.

In dealing with these people, we stand to learn much from the prophet Elisha. Not only did he not get even when he had the chance, but he went so far as to be a blessing to those who opposed him. Why? Because through his kind and righteous behavior, his enemies were able to see the power of God at work, the result of which is much more valuable than vengeance. His enemies ceased to pursue him anymore and, even more importantly, quit opposing the sovereign work of God which was at work through His people Israel.

I remember reading a prayer by Scotty Smith that said, “Lord, I am certain that I want to honor you more than I want to feel vindicated.” That’s not an easy prayer to pray, but it is one that can both free us from those who oppose us and open their eyes to see God at work in one fell swoop.

Prayer: Lord, I want to honor you more than I want to feel vindicated. In every relationship or area of opposition in my life, make this prayer genuine in my heart. Help me to truly believe that loving my enemies is always the best way.

Bible Reading for Today: Galatians 4

Lunch Break Study

Romans 12:14-21

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. ¹⁷ Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. ¹⁹ Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Questions to Consider:

1. What does it mean to bless and not curse our enemies? How might that practically play out in your life?
2. How might our actions in taking revenge fail to leave room for God’s vengeance?
3. Why are God’s instructions to us in verse 20 so important? What is He ultimately asking us to do? 

Notes: 

1. Our tendency when someone opposes us is to speak negatively against them and wish ill towards them (and understandably so). But instead of doing this, we are called to bless them – not only with our words but also with our actions. This could take many forms, none of which will likely be easy to do.
2. When we seek revenge, we always are in sin. This is the first problem Paul instructions seek to help us avoid. But even further, God can enter into situations where we’ve been wronged and make things right in ways we often can’t imagine. Even more, He is able to change the heart of our oppressors. This is the greater victory.
3. Where our natural response to opposition is to destroy the source, God calls us to not only resist that impulse but to respond with actions that bring life. Feeding the hungry and giving a drink to the thirsty are all life preserving actions. As people of God, we are called to bring life, even to the one who seeks our destruction. In so doing, we both preserve our life and theirs as well.

 Evening Reflection

In what ways can you “over come evil with good” in your life right now? Who are the people around you whom God is calling you to bless even as they oppose you? Spend some time seeking the Lord about these things. Ask Him to show you practical ways to be a blessing. Ask Him to forgive you for ways you’ve breathed curses and for His love to fill your heart for your enemies. Spend some time reflecting on the cross and Jesus’ willingness to come for us when we were God’s enemies.

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT devotionals from Aug. 9-15 are provided by Cami King, a staff at Journey Community Church (Raleigh).

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 Kings 6:15-17

 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

When I was a little girl I remember reading the story of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. It follows a little boy, Alexander, through what he concludes is the worst day imaginable. From having a drawer fall on his foot, to getting gum lodged in his hair, to being forced to eat lima beans, all before being scalded by his bathwater – this kid is having a pretty rough time. Things are so bad that he resolves to move to Australia. It’s a cute little story that teaches kiddos that sometimes life doesn’t go our way, but tomorrow is always a new day.

Yet as we get older, our terrible, horrible days are a lot less cute than Alexander’s. And they last a lot longer – spanning months or years or even whole seasons of life when things just don’t go our way. If you’re like me, it doesn’t take long to recall a time when you felt absolutely and unequivocally outnumbered by life’s circumstances—a time when you just knew you were beat, when one thing after another after another fell apart. And even for the resilient among us, there comes a point when we are at our wits end and may even find ourselves in despair.

In our passage for today, Elisha and his servant find themselves surrounded by enemy forces. From what the servant could see – they were finished and the battle was over before it began because they were so greatly outnumbered. But Elisha’s vision was a little clearer and He could see the true state of things. I can rarely read this text without welling up with tears because no matter how difficult life gets, we can always rest assured that the Lord is our protection, surrounding us with powerful spiritual forces that work for our good and for His glory. And when we are overwhelmed and overcome we need only to remind ourselves who our God is and rest in His promise to fight on our behalf. Those who fight with us are always greater than anything and anyone against us. When we find ourselves in despair, we can recall the words that Moses spoke to the Israelites in Exodus 14:14 – The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

Prayer: Almighty God, open my eyes to see Your strong arm of protection around me. In the midst of my most difficult times, help me to remember that You encamp Your forces about me and work all things for my good and for Your glory. Help me to stand firm and trust in You. Give me the vision to see my circumstances the way that You do.

Bible Reading for Today: Galatians 3

Lunch Break Study

Ephesians 6:10-18

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

Questions to Consider:

1. Why is it important that we be strong in the Lord and put on the full armor of God? How does this perspective change the way you view any difficulties you’re currently facing?
2. After putting on the full armor, what are we called to do? Why is this important?
3. Which piece of the armor strikes you most as an area that you may need to give more attention? What are some practical ways you can take up the armor of God in this area?

Notes:

1. We are called to be strong in the Lord and put on the full armor of God because our war is not against flesh and blood (but against rulers and powers in the spirit realm). If we limit our view of the things going on around us to what we can see, we will rely on limited resources as opposed to God’s infinite power.
2. We are called to stand firm. That’s it – just stand. This is important because we do not ultimately have to overcome difficulties on our own. We don’t even have to figure out how to use God’s power within us to overcome. We only have to stand firm in the Lord, continuing to walk in faithful obedience to Him, and He will do the rest.
3. For some of us it is the truth that we are lacking or a grasp of the Gospel, in which case spending more time in the Bible will help us to arm ourselves. For others we may need to spend more time in prayer and take a firmer hold of the Holy Spirit’s power at work in us. Whatever it is for you, spend some time asking God to strengthen you in those areas.

 Evening Reflection

Saint Patrick is credited for the following:

“I rise today with the power of God to pilot me, God’s strength to sustain me, God’s wisdom to guide me, God’s eye to look ahead for me, God’s ear to hear me, God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to protect me, God’s way before me, God’s shield to defend me, God’s host to deliver me from snares of devils, from evil temptations, from nature’s failings, from all who wish to harm me, far or near, alone and in a crowd.”

Spend some time reflecting on the quotation above. Allow the Holy Spirit to bring His peace as you choose to put your trust in God’s willingness to protect you and see you through even the fiercest of storms.

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT devotionals from Aug. 9-15 are provided by Cami King, a staff at Journey Community Church (Raleigh).

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 Kings 6:8-10 

Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.” 9 But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.” 10 And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.

Life flies at us in a lot of different ways and adversity comes in many forms. But the absolute worst form (in my humble opinion) is the ambush – those unexpected things that catch us off guard and disrupt our lives when least expected. The King of Israel was facing the prospect of a literal (military) ambush. An opposing nation lay in wait for him and his troops in order to take them down when they were not expecting a fight. But here we learn a valuable lesson: for the people of God, the Lord himself is the ultimate defense because he can see what we cannot see and knows what we do not yet know. And when we need Him the most, He enters in – even when we are not yet aware of the situations that will necessitate our need for Him.

The older I get the more I realize I have no idea what’s going on – in my life… in the world… in general. There are a lot of unknown factors. If I make this move, if I choose this option, if I do that thing… then what? And more often than not, the “then what” that I come up with isn’t quite what happens. And to make matters worse, just when I think I have a handle on things, the waters change course and I’m left scrambling trying to get my bearings. But this passage reminds us that we can rest assured that God is not surprised. And even the unknown factors that we are unable to control or account for or foresee are known by our God and He has already considered them as He leads us step by step through life.

We don’t have to fear the ambushes that come our way, because our heavenly Father already knows and will aid in the ways we need – He’ll warn us or re-route us and do what only He can do. We don’t have to worry about the unknowns because God has already accounted for them – He often prepares us without us even knowing what we’re being prepared for. And when it’s all said and done, we will not be overtaken if we simply continue to walk in faithful obedience to Him.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for defending me against the ambushes in my life. I choose to rest in Your hands, knowing that You will not allow me to be overtaken. I surrender my worries about the unknowns to You. I surrender my frustrations about the unexpected to You. You have demonstrated time and time again that You will fight for me. Help me to be still.

Bible Reading for Today: Galatians 2

Lunch Break Study

Psalm 139:1-6

1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it. 

Questions to Consider:

Spend some time meditating on the passage above. Read and re-read the verses a few times (the slower the better), thinking about where they land with you and what their implications are for your life and your personal relationship with God. Below are some questions that may help your time of meditation:

1. What does it mean that the Lord “searches” and “knows” you? How have you experienced this kind of intimacy with God?
2. What does it mean that the Lord “searches out your paths” and is “acquainted with all your ways”? How has this practically played out in your life?
3. How does this vast knowledge of God encourage you? How does it challenge you?

 Evening Reflection

Some see David’s words in Psalm 139:5 as an expression of discomfort with the vast knowledge of God (the kind of discomfort one might feel when completely exposed to another, unable to hide the things we don’t want them to see). While we may be tempted to merely tremble, we can also take great comfort in God’s omniscience (knowing everything) because while we are known completely by Him we are at the same time loved unconditionally by Him. And when it comes to life’s unknowns and unexpected moments, there is even greater comfort in knowing God is not surprised by anything. Are there specific situations or areas in your life right now where the omniscience of God can be a source of comfort? Spend some time offering those areas to the Lord.

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT devotionals from Aug. 9-15 are provided by Cami King, a staff at Journey Community Church (Raleigh).

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 Kings 6:1-7

Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See, the place where we dwell under your charge is too small for us. 2 Let us go to the Jordan and each of us get there a log, and let us make a place for us to dwell there.” And he answered, “Go.” 3 Then one of them said, “Be pleased to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.” 4 So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. 5 But as one was felling a log, his axe head fell into the water, and he cried out, “Alas, my master! It was borrowed.” 6 Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float. 7 And he said, “Take it up.” So he reached out his hand and took it.

Last week we read a story about Gehazi, a servant of the prophet Elisha. For whatever reason – be it greed or leaning too heavily upon his own understanding – Gehazi went behind Elisha’s back and took payment from Naaman (whom Elisha had healed) after Elisha had refused it. Gehazi then lied to Elisha about what he’d done when Elisha (already aware of what had happened) questioned him about it. As a result he was struck with leprosy. In direct contrast to that narrative we have our passage for today. Here, unnamed disciples of Elisha display meticulous piety, devotion, and sacrifice in their service to Elisha in constrast to Naaman’s unfaithfulness.

It is often said that Gehazi greedily sought riches (and became a leper as a result) while these men faithfully sought the things of God and were content with material poverty as long as God (through the prophet) was made available to them. I think this is a fair way of seeing things and much can be learned from this understanding. However, last week we looked at Gehazi’s story from a different perspective, instead imaging him as not merely a greedy man, but one who in a tough spot (the life of a prophet – and his servants – was no cakewalk), compromised and yielded to temptation. Leaning too heavily upon his own understanding of things (thinking, “We earned this payment!”), he found himself in sin and condemnation.

In light of these things, what do we stand to learn from today’s passage? That God rewards those who faithfully serve Him. But not only this, He comes to their aid, even in seemingly trivial matters. One of Elisha’s disciples lost a borrowed ax head (expensive!) and instead of brushing it off (thinking, “It was an accident!” or “It’s not mine anyway!”), he cared deeply about what had happened. And God comes to His aid (through Elisha). I can’t help but recall Jesus’ words about the sparrow. If God’s eye is even upon the little birds, He certainly watches over his servants as well and will help them when they need Him (even in small matters) – especially for those who strive to live faithfully for Him.

So whether you’re being tempted by greed or any other sin into unfaithfulness or you’re feeling weak in the face of a difficult season to cut corners and compromise – take heart! Even in the little things, God sees and provides according to His glorious riches. Faithfulness is always rewarded.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to remember that faithfulness is always rewarded. When I am tempted to sin and to do things my own way, help me to trust in You and give you room to come to my aid in ways that exceed what I could think or imagine. Thank you for loving me so much that you are attentive to my needs – even the small ones.

Bible Reading for Today: Galatians 1

Lunch Break Study

Matthew 10:26-33

26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Questions to Consider:

1. Why is it important that we not fear man?
2. What point is Jesus making in verses 29-30? What does this tell us about God’s heart for us in light of the previous verse?
3. In what ways do you deny God before men? How have these verses encouraged or challenged you to acknowledge Him instead?

Notes:

1. It is easy for us to fear what we can see – especially other people. But we give them more power than they actually have. At the same time, we don’t fear God often times for the simple fact that we cannot see him and have no real concept of his power and majesty. But He has power over everything (even our eternal destiny) and therefore is the only one worthy of fear.
2. While it is important that we have a proper fear of the Lord, it is also crucial that we understand His great love for us. Yes, He has to power to take and give life (eternally!), but He has chosen to wield His power on our behalf (best demonstrated in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus). Therefore we should rejoice and all the more live faithfully for Him.
3. We deny God in many different ways. We may outright deny Him with our words before others, or we may deny him with our actions of unfaithfulness before an on-looking world. Either way, a healthy fear of the Lord and a deep persuasion of His love for us should spur us on to faithfully acknowledge Him in thought, word, and deed.

 Evening Reflection

Can you recall a time when God was mindful of you and provided for your needs (even in small ways) as you’ve tried to live faithfully for Him? Spend some time reflecting on those moments and thanking God for His faithfulness. It is important that we revisit these moments to remind ourselves of God’s love and faithfulness so that we might be encouraged to continue to live faithfully for Him. Are you being tempted in a specific area toward unfaithfulness? Are you weary from a tough season and considering a compromise in your walk with the Lord? Offer these things to God, keeping in mind all that we studied today. God always rewards faithfulness and is mindful of us even in small matters. Ask for His help in the specific areas you need today.