March 14, Friday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Doug Tritton, was first posted on February 9, 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

“Freely Given”

Genesis 44:1-2

Then he commanded the steward of his house, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack, 2 and put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain.” And he did as Joseph told him.

Joseph is being tricky. He is purposely trying to get Benjamin in trouble so that he can see his brothers protect Benjamin. In a sense, he wants to see if his brothers will treat Benjamin in a similar way to how they had treated Joseph before he ended up in Egypt. Still, Joseph returned their money and gave them more food than they paid for, though he secretly put his silver cup in Benjamin’s pack. All this made his brothers nervous and made them wonder what Joseph was really up to.

Though Joseph was actually being tricky, in our culture, we can often be skeptical when someone tries to give us something for free. We feel like there is a catch. At Symphony Church, we often do something called “servant evangelism,” where we hand out granola bars or water bottles to people as a simple act of service; yet, many people are skeptical, thinking there must be a catch. But there isn’t—we just want to bless them! But still, many people think we must be up to something, that we are being tricky in some way.

This attitude can even bleed into our relationship with God. Free things make us nervous, so we do not accept free grace. We often operate under an attitude of needing to earn this grace. We think, “It can’t really be free!” But it is! Unlike Joseph, God is not tricky. He does not give us grace in a self-interested way. He gives grace at the cost of His Son. And even more, the Bible tells us that God gives us “every spiritual blessing” (Ephesians 1:3). He gives us more than we could imagine. Though Joseph was being tricky when he gave his brothers more than enough food, God freely gives us more than enough.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that You freely bless me with every spiritual blessing. Many times, I find it difficult to accept this, yet still You give and give to me. Lord, You truly are a wonderful Father who gives every good and perfect gift. May I continually give thanks for all that You continually give to me. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 5

Lunch Break Study  

Read Ephesians 1:3-4: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

Questions to Consider

  • In this passage, what is the reason Paul is blessing God?
  • What do you think it means that God has blessed us “with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places”?
  • What is the end result of receiving these blessings from God?

Notes

  • Because God has blessed us! Similar to how John says that “we love because God first loved us” (1 John 4:19), we bless God because He first blessed us! Our worship of God is an overflow of the abundant blessings that God has poured out on us. Let’s worship God today because of the immense blessing He continually pours out on us!
  • First off, we need to recognize that the grounding of these blessings is “in Christ.” We receive this blessing because we are in Christ. Jesus, as God’s beloved Son, is blessed by God because of this immense love God has for His Son. Similarly, in Christ, we are called “children of God,” so this spiritual blessing is similar to that immense love God has for Jesus. Jesus, in the heavenly places, is eternally loved by His Father and we enter into this great love relationship as we are called children of God. As children, we receive more blessing than we could ever imagine! We receive perfect, eternal love. 
  • We are transformed! We may read this and think, Oh, Paul says that we need to be holy and blameless. Suddenly, this leads us to think we are only loved by God when we actually are holy and blameless, as if this is something we need to do. But that is not what Paul is saying! He is saying that as we receive this blessing, it demonstrates that God has called us His own and this results in us being transformed. We become holy and blameless not by our strength but by receiving the blessings from God.

Evening Reflection

Tonight, spend some time in thanksgiving. God has given you blessing upon blessing, though often we do not notice or we take it for granted. Let’s consciously thank God for all that He has given us.

March 13, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on May 24, 2017, is provided by Jennifer Kim who served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“God’s Love for the Marginalized”

Jeremiah 5:26-31 

“For wicked men are found among My people, they watch like fowlers lying in wait; they set a trap, they catch men. 27 Like a cage full of birds, so their houses are full of deceit; therefore they have become great and rich. 28 They are fat, they are sleek, they also excel in deeds of wickedness; they do not plead the cause, the cause of the orphan, that they may prosper; and they do not defend the rights of the poor. 29 Shall I not punish these people?” declares the Lord, “On a nation such as this shall I not avenge Myself? 30 An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority; And My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?”

Sometime last summer, I was at our church office working especially late preparing for three large events, when I heard our church doorbell ring. Assuming it was a fellow staff member who might have forgotten their keys, I unassumingly opened the door to find a homeless man covered in soot. Startled, but concerned, I asked the man if he needed food or water. He politely declined and simply asked if I had socks in the building. Upon looking at his feet, I noticed that he was bleeding on his foot; yet not having any clothes at our office, the man asked if I could call an ambulance for him. Soon after, the paramedics and police arrived; and upon seeing the man, they began to interrogate him without ever asking if he was hurt.  Their first words were, “Why are you so dirty?” It was an absolutely heartbreaking experience to see the people who took an oath to serve and protect the community marginalize this man without a concern for his health—simply because of his state.

In this passage we see God particularly emphasize Judah’s lack of concern for the orphans and the poor. He declares them wicked in their plans to marginalize the needy for their personal benefit. Amongst the long list of Judah’s sin, God highlights the injustice of the marginalized, and asks how He could leave this sin unpunished.

God’s concern for the weak, poor, and hurting are the top of God’s concern. While it may be easy to pass by the homeless and to think there is little we can do to help the orphans and hurting, God calls us to be the light of the world. To be the light and solution to the world, we must be the same channel of love and hope that saved us from our own sins. Let us take time from our day today to find ways to be the light in the areas of darkness around us.

Prayer: God, I thank You for Your love that saved a wretch like me. Help me to realize Your love is the only one that can save. Help me to be the agent of love with the love You poured out to me. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 4

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 25:31-40: When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” 37 Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” 40 The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Questions to Consider

  • What does God require of His children to receive their inheritance in full?
  • How does God associate Himself with the needy?
  • Take some time to think about a group of people that may be difficult for you to love. What are some obstacles you need to overcome to love them?

Notes

  • God requires His children to do acts of service in tending to those in need.
  • God states that what one does for the sick, hungry, and imprisoned is the same as what they do for Him.
  • Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Today we spoke on God’s call to all believers to serve, love, and defend the marginalized in our society. Take time to reflect on your day. Did you take time out of your day to find ways to show love and be a light to the world? If not, tomorrow is a new day, but think of ways you can show the love God to those who may need it.

March 12, Wednesday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on May 9, 2018, is provided by Joshua Chzen. Joshua has been leading worship at Kairos Christian Church in San Diego, California, for many years. He and his wife, Sandra, were married in 2017.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Where is the Lord?”

Jeremiah 2:4-8

Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the clans of the house of Israel. 5 Thus says the Lord: “What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless? 6 They did not say, ‘Where is the Lord who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us in the wilderness, in a land of deserts and pits, in a land of drought and deep darkness, in a land that none passes through, where no man dwells?’ 7 And I brought you into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruits and its good things. But when you came in, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination. 8 The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who handle the law did not know me; the shepherds transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and went after things that do not profit.

My love for bargain hunting was passed down from my mom.  When I was in elementary school, she began taking me along on her trips to Ross and TJ Maxx. For the most part, I would stick to her like glue as she dug through rack after rack of clothing. Eventually, we would pass by clearance bins filled with movies, computer games, toys, and other junk. I dug through those like they were treasure pits—  so focused that I wouldn’t even realize that my mom had moved on to other sections of the store. Not once would it occur to me to ask where my mom was. More often than not, she would circle back for me before I was done scavenging; but there were a few times I finished, only to look up and realize that my mom wasn’t there. Feelings of mild panic would quickly grow worse as I wandered off into the rest of the store with no clue where to look. Fortunately, she usually managed to find me before I started crying.

God rebukes Israel in this passage for forsaking Him. The charges He lays out against His people are of idolatry—a struggle shown consistently and prominently in the history of Israel. However, it’s interesting to note that their idol worship doesn’t seem to come from a deliberate attempt to spurn God. He points out not once, but twice their failure to look to Him—they had forgotten to ask the simple question, “Where is the Lord?” Israel had forsaken God, not out of their sheer will to leave Him, but out of their lack of will to remember Him. After all God had done, they simply forgot Him amidst everything else they had in front of them.

Today, there are a thousand different things that can command our attention at any given moment. As sinful people, we can’t overestimate our ability to stay focused on heavenly things. It’s too easy for us to assume we’re spending our time well and headed on the right track, when really we’re just pursuing distractions. We don’t want to be the one digging through the clearance bin, only to look up and realize that God is somewhere else. Like the Israelites, it’s usually through our lack of will to remember God—through our passive neglect—that we end up forsaking Him. As He guides us through every context of life, God expects us to follow Him—and this begins by willfully asking the question, “Where is the Lord?” 

Prayer: Lord, I know it’s easy for me to forget You. Thank You that even through this, You never leave me nor forsake me. Give me a heart that desires to go where you go, and discerns where You are moving. Help me to go out of my way to seek You out. In Your Name.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 3

Lunch Break Study

Read Deuteronomy 8:10-14 (NIV): When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. 11 Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Questions to Consider

  • Under what circumstances does the author Moses caution against forgetting God?
  • What kind of attitude does Moses say will precede forgetting God?
  • What are some steps we can take not to forget about God?

Notes

  • In vv. 12-13, Moses paints a picture of wealth, prosperity, and success. After decades of trials and suffering, the Israelites would have finally reached the Promised Land. Of course, this is the land God has given them, and these things are all attributed to the God who brought them through the trials and into the blessing.
  • Moses warns against hearts of pride setting in, after experiencing God’s blessing—the implication is that the Israelites will believe that they have worked for and earned all the things that God had blessed them with. They will forget that God was the one who sustained them and blessed them.
  • Failing to observe God’s commands, laws, and decrees leads to forgetting Him. By routinely spending time reading His Word and receiving through prayer and meditation, we can create a baseline for God’s commands to be present in our hearts.

Evening Reflection

Think about your day—where was God moving? How does He want you to approach tomorrow differently? Spend some time asking Him to show you where He is, and where He wants you to be. 

March 11, Tuesday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on April 10, 2018, is provided by Emerson Lin. Emerson, who serves in E. Asia as a missionary, is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). 

Devotional for This Morning

“First shall be Last.”

Mark 9:30-37

They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

A couple of years ago, our small groups went through a workshop called, “When Helping Hurts.” This material taught us the best way to help those without homes, without hurting them. While the material did give practical suggestions, it taught us that the only way to truly help the homeless community was to change our perception of ourselves. Rather than coming from an “I am better off than you, so let me help you” mentality, we need to recognize that we are no different. Because of our sin and our wretchedness, we are in need of Jesus to rescue us. It is only through this lens, that we can truly embrace those without homes. Through embracing the marginalized, we are embracing Jesus.

In this passage, Jesus sits with the Twelve and talks about the “Upside down kingdom.” He mentions in verse 35, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” However, to make His point clearer, He equates welcoming a child to welcoming the Father. How do these two verses connect?

In ancient Israel, children were considered fundamentally deficient and not yet human in a full sense. They were physically small, underdeveloped, and vulnerable. This child represented all people who were disregarded by society; the weak, the poor, the sick, those without homes, tax collectors, and prostitutes. 

I believe Jesus is telling us that in order to become first in the kingdom of God, we need to embrace those who are marginalized in our society. More than just meeting their physical needs, followers of Jesus need to welcome them with open arms. Because of our sin, this difficult act requires us to lower ourselves and to see that they are no different than us. This cannot be accomplished by our own strength, but only through the transformational work of the Holy Spirit! Today, let’s spend some time asking the Lord to give us hearts of compassion for the marginalized people of our society. As we embrace the oppressed, we embrace the Father.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that you are a compassionate Father. Please remove any obstacles in my heart that prevents me from seeing that I am no different than the oppressed. Help me to love them the way You love them. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Micah 6:6-16: “My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me. I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam. My people, remember what Balak king of Moab plotted and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.” With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Listen! The Lord is calling to the city—and to fear your name is wisdom—“Heed the rod and the One who appointed it.[b] Am I still to forget your ill-gotten treasures, you wicked house, and the short ephah,[c] which is accursed? Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales, with a bag of false weights? Your rich people are violent your inhabitants are liars and their tongues speak deceitfully. Therefore, I have begun to destroy you, to ruin[d] you because of your sins. You will eat but not be satisfied; your stomach will still be empty.eYou will store up but save nothing, because what you save[f] I will give to the sword. You will plant but not harvest; you will press olives but not use the oil, you will crush grapes but not drink the wine. You have observed the statutes of Omri and all the practices of Ahab’s house; you have followed their traditions. Therefore I will give you over to ruin and your people to derision; you will bear the scorn of the nations.[g]”

Questions to Consider

  • In verses 3-5, what is the Lord’s attitude when He begins His case against the Israelites?
  • According to verse 8, what does the Lord require of Israel?
  • How does the Lord judge the Israelite’s wickedness? (see vv. 14-15)

Notes

  • The Lord begins with questions which reveal the Lord’s sadness for His people. The Lord reminds them all that He has done for them. Yet, Israelites reject His love by acting wickedly. 
  • The Lord requires the Israelites to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with their God. 
  • The Lord judges the Israelites by taking away their blessing. The imagery He uses in verse 14-15 show that the Israelites will work hard but never reap the benefits. 

Evening Reflection

Today, we learned that to be first in the kingdom of God, we need to be last. Jesus gives us a practical advice of how to follow this kingdom principle. He calls us to love and embrace those who are oppressed and broken. Spend some time this evening asking the Lord to give us strength to take the first step to love those who are marginalized in our society. 

March 10, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI Quiet Time, first posted on August 27, 2018, is provided by Pastor Peter Yoon who is the Lead Pastor of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Solitude: The Best Place to Hear from God”

Jeremiah 33:1-3 (NIV)

While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him a second time: 2 “This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: 3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

Question: If you were to be stranded on a deserted island, name three items that you’d take with you? 

As kids, we’d converse over such silly and hypothetical questions. We’d name items of necessity such as food and water, then we’d laugh as we listed entertainment items such a video games and TV. But there was always one “holy” person in our group who would say, “The Bible.” Of course, an answer of such holiness and weightiness would kill our silly conversation. But there’s something to be said about God’s Word and solitude. 

In this chapter, Jeremiah finds himself in solitude. Previously, the prophet had been warning of Judah’s impending doom at the hands of the Babylonians. The army of the king of Babylon was then besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet spoke that eventually the city would fall with its army. Not wanting to hear the bad news, King Zedekiah of Judah had confined Jeremiah into the courtyard of the guards. It is in solitude that God speaks again to Jeremiah telling him of the “unsearchable things.” 

It is in the place of solitude where God speaks to His people. Today’s technology gives us unlimited access to the latest information, ideas, news, entertainment, etc. However, it has also taken from us something that is invaluable for our spiritual growth—and that is solitude. John Ortberg writes, “Solitude is the one place where we can gain freedom from the forces of society that will otherwise relentlessly mold us.” Especially today, we must intentionally carve out space and time for this solitary confinement, so that instead of being caught up into our society’s noise, we can be arrested by God’s word. 

Question: If you were to be stranded on a deserted island, name three items that you’d take with you? 

Answer: A Bible. (End of Conversation) 

Prayer: Lord, today, I want to know how to take a meaningful and necessary pause in my life. Help me to hear Your voice as I wait on You in silence. In Your name.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 1

Lunch Break Study 

Read Mark 6:30-32 (NIV): The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” 32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.

Questions to Consider

  • What do you think is going on in the minds and hearts of the apostles in this scene? 
  • Why do you think Jesus takes the apostles to a quiet place for some rest?  
  • How does this scene help you to understand the importance of solitude? 

Notes

  • Perhaps the apostles were tired and hungry, as the text would indicate. However, consider the possibility that they were feeding off of the fame they were enjoying. Consider the words of Henri Nouwen: “In solitude, I get rid of my scaffolding.” Scaffolding is the stuff we use to keep ourselves propped up, to convince ourselves that we are important. (Ortberg, John)
  • Jesus understood that the mission would still take a few years. Proper rest allows God’s servants to run the marathon rather than a short sprint. 
  • Personal reflection.

Evening Reflection

When was the last time you took half a day to be alone with God? How about even 30 minutes walking with the Lord? Turn everything off (not on silence mode), and spend 15 minutes alone with the Lord. Ask Him to “arrest” your heart and your mind and speak to you. 

March 9, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on January 7, 2018, is provided by Pastor Jason Sato. Jason, along with his wife Jessica and their three young children, is serving in Japan as an AMI missionary.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The God of Promise”

Genesis 34:30 

Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me stink to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites. My numbers are few, and if they gather themselves against me and attack me, I shall be destroyed, both I and my household.”

 Hagiography is a form of biography that exaggerates the greatness of its subject.  Ordinary people become saints, and saints become models of perfection.  If someone wrote a hagiography about me, I would be 7 feet tall with the courage of Nelson Mandela and the compassion of Mother Theresa (i.e. I would not be myself).

The Bible has no room for hagiography.  Jacob is now Israel.  He is a changed man.  But he is still a sinful man.  His daughter has been raped.  His sons have slaughtered and ransacked a city.  And all he can think of is himself.

Jacob declares that Simeon and Levi have brought trouble “on me” and they made “me stink to the inhabitants of the land.”  Jacob laments, “My numbers are few” and if they “attack me, I shall be destroyed, both I and my household.”  Jacob’s first concern is not love or justice but his own survival.

Jacob is not a psychopath.  He truly does know God.  But he is like any of us, both a sinner and a saint.  Thankfully, God’s blessing does not depend on the faithfulness or holiness of unstable men but on His promise.  Not because of Jacob but despite him, Israel would become a great nation.  The Savior of the world would come through his line to bring blessing to all the families of the earth.  The number of Israel’s true children would be as great as the stars in the sky and the grains of sand on the seashore.

Prayer: Father, thank You that I am not the person I used to be.  And thank You that there is still as great of grace for me today as there was the first day I met You.  Please make me more and more like You.  But as I struggle forward, give me faith to trust in Your goodness, Your works, and Your promises not my own. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Jude 1

March 8, Saturday

NEW Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought is provided by Charmer Pratt. Charmer, a longtime member of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia, has served faithfully in the welcoming ministry since 2016.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Our Generous God”

Genesis 1:16

“God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.”

Have you ever had a friend who was extremely generous but barely acknowledged it? I’m sure we can all think of someone who is great at cooking extravagant meals, designing beautiful house projects, or going very far out of their way to help you in an emergency. The greatest part about that friend is that when we thank them, they don’t even acknowledge that they did much at all.

This love that we receive from those friends is a small taste of the love we see from our Lord, which we can even see in Genesis 1 before the creation of man. If you allow me to get a little nerdy for a moment, I’ll lay down a few facts about the sun: our sun’s circumference is over 100 times larger than that of the Earth. It is 94 million miles (about 151,278,336 km) away from the Earth, but the fire from it burns so hot that we cannot get within 3 million miles (about 4,828,032 km) of it without burning up. Even at its current distance (for the hemisphere that is in summer), it can burn our skin so frequently that sunscreen is a multi-billion dollar industry!

Our sun is about the average size of a star found in the universe and far from the largest, and there are about 200,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (200 sextillion, or 200 billion trillion) stars in the universe!

Now, how does God describe all of these amazing things about the stars? “He also made the stars.” These amazing balls of gas in the sky are essentially an afterthought to the Lord! This is the God we serve; One whose “side projects” of creation are beyond our imagination, yet thinks of us as His masterpieces. There is no better way to respond to such a God than with confident obedience and reverence!

Prayer: Thank you, Heavenly Father, for showing Your great power by creating the stars. Your generosity is and will always be beyond my comprehension. May I always have confidence in Your love in everything You command me to do, knowing that what You can do is beyond my comprehension and everything You command is right. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Haggai 1-2

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!