March 7, Friday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted March 9, 2018, is provided by Pastor Mark Chun. Mark is now serving as a staff at Radiance Christian Church in S.F. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Only He Has the Authority to Forgive”

Mark 2:1-12 (ESV)

And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” 

In this passage, Jesus gives the crowd physical evidence of His spiritual authority to forgive sin.  But in order to prove to the religious leaders and skeptics that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sin, He commands the paralyzed man to rise up and pick up his mat.  From man’s perspective, we would conclude that it is far more difficult to command a physical healing, because you can’t prove if someone’s sins are forgiven.  However, from God’s perspective, the forgiveness of sin comes at a far greater price and is a much more difficult thing—something only God can do.  

The physical healing, in this case, is a sign and evidence of the spiritual healing.  I realize that not all cases of divine forgiveness are going to be evidenced by such a dramatic sign, but, at the same time, I do believe that there should be at least some sort of physical evidence.  It seems impossible to receive true forgiveness and not walk in greater joy, deeper conviction of sin, and heartfelt love for Christ.  The very words of Jesus teach us that those who have been forgiven much, love much.  

We dare not become like these scribes who doubted and questioned whether or not Jesus has the authority to forgive sin.  The world is okay with Christianity—as long as we stay within the boundary of our own morals and ethics.  Some years ago, I was talking with a co-worker about Buddhism; he was sharing with me about man’s need to love one another, and how we should be kind to those who are our enemies. I was thinking how much this sounds like the Sermon on the Mount; and it seemed so tempting to believe that both Christianity and Buddhism are both valid expressions of faith based on their ethical teaching.  However, the fundamental difference between these world religions is that Buddha came to provide enlightenment, whereas Christ came with the authority to forgive sin.  Anyone can offer you enlightenment—you just have to be an insightful teacher—but only God can forgive sin.  Of all the leaders of the world religions, only Christ claimed the power to forgive our sins; and He proved it not only through this miracle but through His death and resurrection.  

Prayer: Lord, thank You for bearing our sin on the cross.  By the power of Your resurrection, we believe that all our sins have been forgiven and that we no longer have to live in guilt and shame.  Teach us how to live in the freedom that You purchased for us and to walk in Your forgiveness, forgiving others as You have forgiven us.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  John 21

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 John 1:5-10 (ESV): This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 

Questions to Consider

  • What does it mean to walk in darkness?
  • What does it mean to walk in the light? 
  • Why is it a matter of justice for God to forgive our sins as we confess?

Notes

  • In the apostle John’s writings, darkness goes beyond matters of morality and ethics but refers to the condition of death that sin causes.  Therefore, walking in darkness is a state where there is no sensitivity or guilt in connection to sin.  Those who say that they have no sin are prime examples of those who are walking in darkness.  People who sin continually with no remorse or thought of repentance should also be considered to be walking in darkness, because their hearts have not been made alive to the reality of sin.  
  • In contrast, walking in the light simply means walking in the fullness of life that has been secured by Christ.  As John writes in his Gospel, Christ is the source of life and that life is the light of men.  Those who walk in this light are being cleansed of their sin by the blood of Jesus.  In other words, this light overcomes the sin in our lives by causing us to be sensitive and repentant over these wrongs.  
  • We usually equate justice with judgment and punishment, not with the forgiveness of sin.  But God operates on the principle of double jeopardy— meaning, once the penalty for sin has been paid, it would be an injustice to exact a second payment for that sin.  In a manner of speaking, once Christ paid for our sin on the cross, God limited Himself so that the only choice He has in response to our confession of sin is to forgive us freely.  

Evening Reflection

Have you confessed your sins today and experienced His forgiveness?  Have you considered how sin robs us of the fullness of life that God intends for us?  Meditate on what it means to walk in the light, and how you can live more fully in that light.        

March 6, Thursday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on May 3, 2018, is provided by Jabez Yeo. He and his family are getting ready to leave for Thailand as missionaries with OMF.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Shattered Soul”

Mark 15:33-47

At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). 35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.” 36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said. 37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. 38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died,[c] he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” 40 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph,[d] and Salome. 41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there. 42 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.

A word I often heard when I first began serving in church was investment, as in “who or what ministry should I invest in?” I initially felt uncomfortable with the concept (even as a finance major), but over time, I began to understand how applicable it was. Simply put, ministry done well requires investment: whether its discipling someone, preparing for a Bible study or organizing an event, intentional time and effort is required, along with God’s presence and blessing, for fruit to be produced.

No one embodied the concept of investment better than Jesus. For three years, Jesus had many followers, but He strategically spent time with His twelve disciples. As all of them traveled together, almost every waking moment was spent doing ministry with them, teaching and debriefing with them, as well as rebuking them. Jesus was able to use even the seemingly mundane moments, such as everyday conversations or meal time, to reveal profound spiritual truths. 

Yet, despite Jesus’ love that was poured out for His disciples, where were they in His time of need? Nowhere to be found. As Jesus lay hanging on the cross, only the close women in Jesus’ life (v. 40) and John were present with Him. Furthermore, Jesus cried out at the ninth hour, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (v.34). The abandonment that Jesus felt was not limited to His disciples but also to God the Father, whom Jesus was in complete unity with.

Most, if not all, of us have felt the pain and loss of abandonment. Perhaps some of us may feel betrayed by friends, families or co-workers. Or maybe we know first-hand the devastation that comes through divorce or an unexpected death of a loved one. Even if such tragedies have not occurred, the loss of friendships as seasons change can also be disheartening. 

Thankfully, our Savior can relate to us in our pain. Even through the valley of the shadow of death, He is with us and will never forsake us. Let us come to Him today to bring the wounds of our hearts to Him.

Prayer: Jesus, I can’t imagine what it was like for You to hang on the cross, facing death alone. You truly know what it means to be abandoned, for You had no one to journey with to imminent death. Thank You that even in my times of despair, You are with me. Remind me today once again that You never fail and that You will be faithful to the end. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 20

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 25:16-22: “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. 17 Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish. 18 Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. 19 See how numerous are my enemies and how fiercely they hate me! 20 Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. 21 May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you. 22 Deliver Israel, O God, from all their troubles!”

Questions to Consider

1. Though it can be argued that David is the greatest Old Testament figure, a man after God’s own heart, yet we see his struggles in this Psalm. What are his struggles?

2. How does David deal with such strong emotions?

3. How do you respond when you find yourself beset by similar feelings?

Note

1. David confesses that he feels lonely and afflicted (v.16). His heart is troubled and he is anguished (v.17). There is an element of despair (v.19) as well as fear. 

2. David cries out to God and asks for God’s presence and grace (v.16). He asks for God’s protection amidst his enemies (v.19-20). He acknowledges that his hope is in the Lord and asks for His deliverance (v.21-22). 

3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

It is estimated that around 40 percent of the Psalms contain an element of lament, yet this is rarely highlighted in teaching or worship.  Ask God to help you lament well, that you would turn to Him daily just as David did. 

March 5, Wednesday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Doug Tritton, was first posted on February 7, 2018.  A graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), Doug is the Lead Pastor of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Pledge of Safety”

Genesis 43:8-9

 And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. 9 I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever.”

When I read this passage, what comes to mind is Aragorn from the Lord of the Rings. In the Fellowship of the Ring, Aragorn promised to protect Frodo no matter the cost. He would stand by his side and ensure that no danger would come upon him. Similarly, in the Two Towers, Aragorn made it his mission to find Merry and Pippen, and to ensure that no harm came upon them by the hands of the Uruk-hai. Parents often do something similar: they tell their children to trust them, that they will guarantee their safety, as they ride a bike for the first time, or do something else that could be scary for the child.

In this passage, Judah is the one guaranteeing the safety of Benjamin, Jacob’s youngest son. He tells Jacob to not worry, to trust that he could ensure the protection of Benjamin. As we may know already, Jesus was a direct descendant from Judah. Just as Judah was pledging to ensure the safety of Benjamin, Jesus pledged His life to protect us from sin and death. Judah says that if any harm came upon Benjamin, he would “bear the blame forever.” Jesus actually did bear the blame, though it wasn’t His blame. He bore our blame so that we may become blameless.

Jesus is greater than Aragorn, He is greater than Judah. There is no emptiness to the pledge He makes to us. Our safety is guaranteed in Him—not necessarily physical safety, but our eternal safety. Jesus, the Good Shepherd lays down His life for His own that we may eternally be His. Today, let’s remember our Savior, the One who pledged His life for us, the One in whose love we will always be. 

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for being the Good Shepherd who will never abandon us. I know at many times I feel like I’m on my own, that I need to fight for my own safety, but forgive me for forgetting that You are always with me and will never let go. Thank You that I am eternally secure in You.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 19

Lunch Break Study  

Read John 10:11-18: 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

Questions to Consider

  1. What does it mean that Jesus, who is speaking in this passage, is the Good Shepherd?
  2. Describe the intimacy between the Good Shepherd and His sheep.
  3. Why does Jesus lay His life down for His sheep?

Notes

  1. This passage tells us that Jesus as the Good Shepherd “lays down his life for the sheep.” Other people are just like hired hands, they will not actually protect us from real danger. Jesus the Good Shepherd is the only one who can actually protect us and ensure our eternal safety. Take some time to think over your own life. What are the “hired hands” in your life that you are putting your trust in over Jesus?
  2. The Good Shepherd knows His sheep and His sheep know Him. And this relationship echoes the relationship between Jesus and God the Father. Further, Jesus’ sheep know His voice. This is such a beautiful picture of our intimacy with Him! We know His voice; we can hear Him calling us. 
  3. Jesus lays His life down for us of His own accord. Jesus chose to lay Himself down because of His love for us, His sheep. May we remember this great love He has for us. For some of us, we may think, “Yeah, yeah, I know this already.” But do our lives reflect this trust we have in Jesus’ love? Do we feel absolutely secure in Him? Challenge yourself to trust Him more and more!

Evening Reflection

This afternoon we read that Jesus’ sheep can hear His voice. Take some time tonight to listen for the voice of Jesus. He is speaking His love over us – may you hear Him tonight and know this intimacy that is possible in Him!

March 4, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on April 3, 2018, is written by Pastor David Son who pastors the Thrive Church in Taipei.  He is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley (BA) and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Stay up to date with the church by following them here: https://www.instagram.com/thrivechurchtaipei/

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Problem Is Me”

Mark 7:14-15;21-23

And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand:  There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him… For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

Several years ago, I was driving back to Boston from the New Jersey area. It was late at night and I was surprised at the number of cars that were on the highway with me. Even more unusual was the number of cars that were honking and high-beaming. A car would swerve in front of me, and honk obnoxiously, and then speed ahead. I thought to myself “Yup, Massachusetts drivers… rude!” Another car kept high-beaming me from behind, for 5 straight minutes, before swerving around me and speeding off. My frustration with these terrible drivers was coming to a boiling point. It was in this moment that I looked down at my dashboard and realized that my headlights had been off during my entire drive. I had been driving 80mph, lightless, in the dead of the night, putting myself and everyone in my vicinity in danger. No one was around to see, but my face turned bright red in embarrassment as I realized, the problem was me.

When things go wrong, when relationships turn sour, when people get hurt, we are always looking to understand the source of this pain. Our first reaction may be to analyze the circumstances; perhaps we were just in an unfortunate situation. Then, our tendency is to look for faults in other people. But our passage for today teaches us that the primary source of evil and brokenness in our lives is the very heart that is within us. It takes a lot of humility to recognize that we are broken on the inside. But when we come to terms with the true condition of our hearts, that’s when the door opens for God’s healing to come. 

Today, let us not be too quick to cast blame on others or the flaws of our society in general. Before we go there, let’s first admit that we, too, are in need of redemption.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help us today. Without Your help, what righteous thing can we do? Grant us the humility to recognize the brokenness of our own hearts. At the same time give us confidence, knowing that You are living and working within us, empowering us to be Your ministers of reconciliation. In his name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 18

Lunch Break Study

Read James 3:7-12: For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Questions to Consider

  1. According to James, what is the problem with the tongue?
  2. What hope does James offer in regard to fixing this problem?
  3. Read Luke 6:43-45 what does Jesus say about the tongue (mouth)? 

Notes

  1. According to James, the tongue (our words that proceed from it) is evil and full of deadly poison. He explains that it’s because we use our lips to bless God, but also to curse people.
  2. Unfortunately, James offers no hope. In fact, he states that “no human being can tame the tongue.” In other words, there is no power within us that is able to fix this problem. 
  3. In this passage, Jesus says, “for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” We see that the problem of the tongue is but a symptom of the heart. The root of the issue is not about having enough self-control to be able to hold back certain words. Rather, the source of the brokenness is the heart itself. The good news is that when we come to God, He is in the business of giving us new hearts.

Evening Reflection

Spend some time this evening thinking of people in your life who might be blessed by a word of encouragement from you. It may be a co-worker, a classmate, a roommate, or a family member. Pray for them tonight, and perhaps you can share a word of encouragement with them the next time you see them. 

March 3, Monday

NEW Charmer Pratt, a longtime member of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia, has served faithfully in the welcoming ministry since 2016.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Clear the Trees” 

Joshua 17:14-18 

The people of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the LORD has blessed us abundantly.” “If you are so numerous,” Joshua answered, “and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites.” The people of Joseph replied, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots fitted with iron, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.” But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment 18 but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron and though they are strong, you can drive them out.” 

The Lead Pastor of the Remnant Church in New York City, Pastor Joseph Chung, preached on this passage at AMI Revolution 2023 in Boston, and something that God spoke through this message is what I would like to share today.

In this moment of the book of Joshua, Israel has taken over most of the Promised Land and is dividing it. However, the tribe of Joseph are complaining about the size of their allotment. Joshua, God’s appointed leader of Israel, tells them that more land is available if they clear the forests occupied by the Perizzites, Rephaites, and Canaanites, who were already promised to be driven out by LORD through Israel (see Exodus 34:11). Joshua also reminds them that they have already been equipped by the LORD to do this. In response to this, the people of Joseph decry the difficulty of the task. 

I think we can all relate to the way the tribe of Joseph is feeling in this passage in one way or another. Although almost none of us has been called or will be called to clear out a forest or drive out a nation, we’ve all seen a problem, but shrank in fear when God is calling us to be used by Him to solve it. Immediately, our minds can go from resolute complaining to excuse making in a matter of seconds, and we can come up with a dozen excuses for why we’re not qualified for the task that God has called us to do. 

I’ve been feeling this way for at least the past two years in my own life. For years, I’ve been reading these AMI Quiet Times wondering why the new posts have stopped until one day God told me, “Then you write something.” I’ve come up with many poor excuses to not write, from lack of time or Biblical knowledge to worrying what others will think of my writing style. But God’s command is persistent, so here is my disobedience turned into obedience. 

Is there something you see that is bothering you and causing you to think, “Why is nothing being done about this?” Perhaps it’s a sign from God that He is calling you to be the one to be used by Him. 

Ryun Chang: Thank you Charmer for obeying the Lord—finally a new post in two years!

Prayer: LORD, please forgive me for my complaining, bystanding heart. When You show me areas of my life, my church, and my community where action needs to be taken, may I see it not as a source to gripe, but as an opportunity to be used by You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 17

Lunch Break Study

(by Jennifer Kim, first posted on November 19, 2017)

Read Luke 18:1-8: Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, 2 saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. 3 There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ 4 For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said; 7 now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? 8 I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

Questions to Consider

  1. Why did the widow approach the judge?
  2. How did the judge respond to the widow?
  3. In light of this parable, what is God teaching us about prayer?

Notes

  1. The widow kept coming to the judge seeking justice.  She wanted legal protection from her opponent (v. 3).
  2. The judge was unwilling at first, but he listened to the widow because of her tenacity and her persistence (v. 5).
  3. God is teaching us to pray at all times and to not lose heart.  If even an unjust judge who has no respect for God or man is willing to listen to the widow, then how much more will a just God respond favorably to the appeal of His children?  When we ask for the things that align to the purposes of God, He assures us to not give up because He will bring about His justice quickly.

Evening Reflection

We learned today that we ought to be tenacious for the things of the Lord.  Take a moment to think about something that you really desire from Him.  Don’t be afraid to ask!  Pray that ultimately God would give you His perspective and wisdom in your asking.

March 2, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on April 8, 2018, is written by Pastor David Son who pastors the Thrive Church in Taipei.  He is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley (BA) and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Stay up to date with the church by following them here: https://www.instagram.com/thrivechurchtaipei/

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Love Overrides Shame”

Mark 8:38

For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

In my college years, I was incredibly anxious about the idea of marriage. Even though I knew I wanted to get married, eventually, so many things about marriage scared me. Perhaps the scariest thing for me was the proposal. For some reason, whether through movies or people telling me grandiose stories about the proposal of a friend of a friend, I had gotten it in my mind that my proposal had to be this epic, historic event… otherwise my fiancé wouldn’t be happy. In college, I wasn’t even dating yet, but the thought of having to put together such a monumental feat made my palms sweat just thinking about it. There’s something about making a public declaration that makes most people at least a little bit nervous.

Perhaps that’s why many Christians are ashamed, or scared, about being public in their walk with Jesus. For me, the thought of evangelism evokes many of the same anxieties I had when I was thinking about proposals in college; it’s the fear of standing out for something you believe in. Even Jesus’ disciples went through this. When Jesus was arrested, just before He was crucified, Peter was asked multiple times if he was a follower of Jesus; and Peter, out of fear, denied even knowing Him. Yet when Jesus encounters Peter alone again, He restores him by asking him three times, “Do you love me?”

In a profound way, love overrides shame. When it came time for me to propose to Grace, now my wife, I was still a bit scared and nervous. But my love for her overcame whatever fear existed within. Also, I came to the realization that what she actually wanted wasn’t the most exuberant proposal in all of human history, but rather, a sincere confession of my love for her. 

In a similar way, when it comes to living out our faith in the public arena, we shouldn’t just willpower our way into being witnesses. Instead, we have to remember our love for Jesus, because our love for Him can override any shame that exist within. And I believe that what Jesus is asking us to do isn’t necessarily to put on the largest spectacle, but rather, demonstrate a sincere confession of our love for Him. The main question then becomes, “Do I love Him?” Let’s spend some time today renewing and reminding our hearts in our love for Jesus.

Prayer: Jesus, we love You. We sing about it all the time, but it’s also a reality in our hearts. Help us to love You more. Out of our love for You, we also want to be unashamed. Help us to overcome any fears that reside within our hearts. You know us better than anyone and so we have nothing to hide from You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 16

March 1, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on June 2, 2018, is provided by Pastor Joshua Kim. Joshua, a graduate of Emory University, Columbia Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Talbot Theological Seminary (Th.M.), is the Lead Pastor of Upper Room Seattle church.  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Wise in Our Own Eyes”

Jeremiah 8.4-12

“You shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord,

“Do men fall and not get up again?
Does one turn away and not repent?
5 “Why then has this people, Jerusalem,
Turned away in continual apostasy?
They hold fast to deceit,
They refuse to return.
6 “I have listened and heard,
They have spoken what is not right;
No man repented of his wickedness,
Saying, ‘What have I done?’
Everyone turned to his course,
Like a horse charging into the battle.
7 “Even the stork in the sky
Knows her seasons;
And the turtledove and the swift and the thrush
Observe the time of their migration;
But My people do not know
The ordinance of the Lord.

8 “How can you say, ‘We are wise,
And the law of the Lord is with us’?
But behold, the lying pen of the scribes
Has made it into a lie.
9 “The wise men are put to shame,
They are dismayed and caught;
Behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord,
And what kind of wisdom do they have?
10 “Therefore I will give their wives to others,
Their fields to new owners;
Because from the least even to the greatest
Everyone is greedy for gain;
From the prophet even to the priest
Everyone practices deceit.
11 “They heal the brokenness of the daughter of My people superficially,
Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’
But there is no peace.
12 “Were they ashamed because of the abomination they had done?
They certainly were not ashamed,
And they did not know how to blush;
Therefore they shall fall among those who fall;
At the time of their punishment they shall be brought down,”
Says the Lord.

As my wife and I prepare for our first child, I have noticed how much more attentive I am of how other people interact with their own kids—how they speak to the child, what they let get away, what they don’t, the countenance of the parent when interacting with their child. If you were to ask me how I feel about preparing for our first child, I’d confess that I’m honestly not sure because the thought of raising a child, let alone, raising a child well is so beyond my understanding that I am not sure what to think.

Yet, I catch myself noticing certain behaviors of parents or kids… and saying to myself, “Oh my daughter definitely won’t be like that.” “She’s never behaving like that.” I know, I know, especially parents are chuckling, thinking, “Boy, are you going to get owned.”

This thought that all of us probably have had where we think we know better or more than someone else, this idea that we have a wisdom, is such a falsehood that we hold onto. In fact, this presumption of knowledge when we read in scripture is actually not just wrong but wicked before the eyes of God, especially when it comes to understanding our lives. 

In today’s passage, God calls out the people for this very reason. He talks about how normal it is for someone who falls to get up; someone who goes the wrong way to turn back around, and yet these people continue to go down the path of disobedience. Something that comes so naturally to storks and turtledoves, God’s people cannot seem to grasp. And yet they regard themselves as wise—why? Because they have the law of the Lord. As we discussed on Monday, religion had replaced true relationship, and the people believed in this deceit. 

True wisdom, scripture teaches us, it not having a lot of knowledge, of laws and obligations. True wisdom is a way of life that is lived under the fear of God. True wisdom is dynamic—not something possessed and stagnant. And I pray that all of us would have this humble spirit in us that acknowledge that apart from a life intertwined to God, we are nothing. 

Prayer: Father, thank You that in You, we can have true wisdom. Forgive us for the ways we think we know how all of this works. We may have all the knowledge in the world, but unless that knowledge is anchored in You, we nothing but fools. Help us to not be like the people of Judah who find comfort in how much we know. Rather, in humility, help us to find ourselves before Your feet, asking for You to speak to us. In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 14-15

February 28, Friday

REPOSTToday’s AMI Devotional QT, first posted on February 16, 2018, is provided by Pastor Shan Gian who leads Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan.  Shan is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Moving into the Unknown”

Genesis 46:1-4

So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” 3 Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. 4 I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.”

One of the most laborious and painstaking things in life is—moving.  This past summer my family moved from our old apartment into our new house, and while we were thankful for God’s provision of a new home, the process was not fun at all.  If you’ve moved recently, you know that it’s so much work: you pack up all of your belongings and put them in boxes, much less load up a truck, recruit help, unload, clean your old place and your new place, and the list goes on. Because there’s just so much work involved, as people get older, there is a growing desire to be settled.  I’d imagine that for most of us, by the time we reach retirement age, the last thing we’d want to do is to move.

But that is exactly what Jacob had to do. Jacob was very old at this point in Genesis, and it seems that he was not in great health either; but this one last time, he had to move from Canaan to Egypt. He was uprooting his entire life—all of his family, all of his flocks, and all of his possessions— to go to a place that he did not consider his home.  For Jacob, this wasn’t just a laborious thing to do— like my family’s move this past summer—but it was emotionally difficult, because he was going into the unknown.  He was going to Egypt to start over in a new place.  In his advanced age, instead of being settled and secure, he must have felt fearful and insecure as he ventured into the unknown.

It’s difficult to move, but even more difficult is to go into the unknown.  I think we all would have felt anxious and fearful if we were in Jacob’s shoes, but the good news for Jacob—and for us— is that God’s presence is promised.  God doesn’t just tell Jacob that everything would be okay and that he didn’t need to worry, but God so personally promises him, “I myself will go down with you to Egypt.”  Moving into the unknown or walking into uncertainty is never easy, but if we remember our God who promises His presence, we can walk by faith, knowing that God Himself walks with us.  

Prayer: Jesus, help me to walk by faith this day and help me to remember Your enduring presence, which is with me every day.  I pray that Your peace will rest upon my soul as I trust in You.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today:   John 13

Lunch Bible Study

Read Exodus 33:12-16: Moses said to the Lord, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ 13 Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” 14 And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.16 For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”

Questions to Consider

  1. What does Moses ask of God in this passage?
  2. How does God reassure Moses?
  3. Why was God’s presence so important to Moses?

Notes

  1. Moses asks God, “let me know whom you will send with me” to bring the people of Israel into the Promised Land. Moses isn’t asking about the names of the angels or other agents—he’s essentially asking God to show him that He is with Moses and Israel. 
  2. God promises that His presence will go with him and bring him rest/peace in the lord.
  3. Moses didn’t feel like it was worth going into Canaan unless God’s presence went in with them.  It was important to Moses (and to God) that Israel be distinct and different from all other people on the planet because of God’s presence with them.

Evening Reflection

As you think about this day, did you get a sense of God’s presence?  If so, praise God! If not, consider whether there’s a part of you that feels distant from God or not really seeking Him.  Regardless of where your heart is, take some time to pray and ask Him for help and for His presence.

February 27, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Christine Li, was first posted on February 1, 2018. Christine, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

Why Work?

Genesis 42:6 

“Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.”

There is a Christian colleague I catch up with from time to time. A while back, I had confessed to her that I had felt disengaged, unmotivated to work furiously towards the success of our company. She had been feeling the opposite: she felt blessed to work hard. Over the last couple of years, her team had been very successful, and each person had received generous bonuses. To her surprise, she was able to pay off her student loans years ahead of schedule. After she saw how God had used a seemingly worldly thing to miraculously provide in her life, she believed that working hard was a way to honor Him. Upon hearing this, I was chastened and encouraged to work hard as an act of worship. 

The “sacred-secular” construct is one that we as Christians often wrestle with—that is, we are tempted to overvalue some types of work because they happen within a church context and undervalue work that does not seem to have eternal consequences. However, we never completely know what God intends to do through and around us. He can use any “holy” or “unholy” part of our lives, like a bonus because of a successful project at work, to bring about a testimony of His grace.

Joseph governed over a land that was not God-fearing. As far as we can tell, he was faithful and committed, and he made wise and fair decisions. Through Joseph’s administration, God provided for both non-believing Egyptians and their believing neighbors during the years of famine. Imagine if Joseph despised being an administrator because it seemed too unspiritual to be used by God! He would have missed the opportunity to let God set redemptive plans in motion.

Today, let’s remember that God is honored when we work diligently. When we use our gifts and talents, we showcase the brilliance of the Creator who made us. We do not know how He will use the work of our hands, but let us keep in mind that being hardworking and responsible is an act of worship. He will open our eyes to see how He aims to use everything for His glory!

Prayer: Father, open our eyes! We are so short-sighted when it comes to what You orchestrate on this earth. We confess that we can be so callous to Your presence all around us. Would You open our eyes so that we can worship You through our work? Give us a fresh perspective on what it means to worship You with the work of our hands. Help us to be faithful and find great joy in our work today. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 12

Lunch Break Study

Read Colossians 3:1-17: If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.  7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Questions to Consider

  1. What does it mean for us to live but still set our lives on things that are above?
  2. After we are instructed to set our mind on things above, what are the rules for how we should live the rest of our lives on earth?
  3. Let’s take note of all the qualities Paul lists here as characteristic of God’s people. Which ones are you good at exhibiting, and which ones can be increased? Pray and ask God to continue to transform our hearts and character.

Notes

  1. Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, our lives are now transformed and hidden with Him. We set our lives on ’things above’ but living with a heavenly perspective. We are completely rooted in the reality of our lives on earth; however, our ultimate purpose, identity, and goals are linked with the eternal life we have with God.
  2. The meaning and impact of our lives are largely defined by the attitudes of the heart. The dimension of our work that is most important revolves around reflecting the image of Christ to those around us. The focus is now whether we love God and others deeply. 
  3. Personal reflection.

Evening Reflection

Reflect on the past day of work. Did we find an opportunity to find God as we yearned to be faithful and attentive to the tasks at hand? 

February 26, Wednesday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on June 27, 2018, is written by Phillip Chen, who has been serving as the associate pastor of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego for many years. He and several like-minded people are planting, the Lord willing, a new AMI church in Houston this summer. Please pray for them.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Being a Prophetic Voice”

Jeremiah 15:10 (ESV)

Woe is me, my mother, that you bore me, a man of strife and contention to the whole land! I have not lent, nor have I borrowed, yet all of them curse me.

I strongly dislike confrontation; not only that, I’m just not good at it. Sometimes when I need to rebuke someone or point out an area that they need to improve on, I stress out while planning out what I’m going to say. Of course it may sound good in my head—until, the actual confrontation happens. Then, for some reason, all of the things I’ve prepared escape my mind, and I talk about everything but what I need to say, until I’ve thoroughly confused the person. I definitely have to grow in this area. Yet some people are naturally good at it: for example, my wife can rebuke people with a smile on her face, and they actually leave feeling convicted and loved. 

Whether you’re good at it or not, there are times where we need to confront people— particularly convictions that God has placed on our hearts. After all, we are His mouthpieces. Whether it’s sharing the gospel with someone we’re nervous about sharing with, or having a difficult conversation about sin in people’s lives, we know that we must be faithful to the word that the Lord has put on our lips. But it’s definitely not easy.

I used to think about how amazing it must be to be a prophet, since they get to be the direct mouthpiece of God; not only that, they had the ability to do miraculous things (because the power of God was so present in their lives). And then I realized that most of the prophets actually had a very difficult time. They had to say hard things to people that no one wanted to say and were probably hated by many. They were definitely not the popular ones—many of them lived very tragic lives. Jeremiah (known as the “weeping prophet”) probably cried so many tears over the nation of Judah because he knew what was coming for this nation but also because the whole land hated him. In fact, in the middle of this conversation with God, he cries out in agony because the whole nation is angry at him for prophesying destruction upon their nation. How difficult it must have been to be a prophet in a time of rampant sin, prophesying that God’s judgment was coming! 

Yet God gave Jeremiah the grace to speak the difficult words that needed to be said—despite a whole nation against him. God has also given each of us specific words that need to be said. In the midst of difficult conversations, and the truth we must speak from our convictions, He gives us the grace to do so. May we live prophetic lives, speaking forth the word of God through our lips with grace and truth. 

Prayer: Father God, I pray that You would help me to speak Your truth with wisdom and grace. In times when I need to have difficult conversations with someone, strengthen me and give me the courage to speak forth Your truth. Give me a love for people and a tenderness in my words to lead people closer to You rather than further away from You. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 11

Lunch Break Study

Read Colossians 4:2-6 (ESV): Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Question to Consider

1. What is the Paul’s prayer request? 

2. What are some ways salt would be used, and why do you think Paul uses this analogy of being “seasoned with salt”?

3. When you have a conviction from the Lord to confront someone, how do you approach it? 

Notes

1. That he would have opportunities to share about Jesus. Even though he is in prison on account of the gospel, his prayer is that God would use and strengthen him to be faithful in speaking forth the good news of Jesus. He also asks the believers in Colossae to pray that he would be clear in his speech so that people would understand the mystery of Christ. 

2. Salt was used to bring greater taste to bland foods, it was used to preserve foods that would spoil easily, and in some instances, it was used as a means of healing. With that, our speech ought to bring greater taste (edifying), it ought to preserve this decaying world, and it definitely must be a means of healing. Our words are so powerful and ought to be used to build up rather than to destroy.

3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

James 3 talks about the power of the tongue – it has the power to do great things (to build up or destroy people). Think about the words that came out of your mouth today. How did you use these words? Did you speak forth the love of God? Or did you use it to hurt others? Spend some time reflecting before the Lord and ask Him to fine tune your tongue to be used as an instrument for His glory.