Editor’s Note: The AMI Quiet Times for March 30-April 5 are provided by Pastor Shan Gian of Symphony Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

1 Samuel 18:6-9

6 As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. 7 And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”

8 And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9 And Saul eyed David from that day on.

Sometimes, it’s really hard to celebrate.  Sure, celebration at first glance sounds like a great idea; it’s a party!  We hear or share a story of something exciting that has happened, eat some great food and just be happy for someone who has really been blessed.  Celebration is awesome, but we don’t do it very often; and if we’re honest with ourselves, it’s hard to do.

Let’s just think about how hard it can be to be happy for someone else.  We’ve all been there before.  A good friend of yours gets a promotion or raise, and of course you’re happy for them, but then you can’t help but think, “What about me?”  Someone you know gets married or gets engaged and you’re happy for them, but then you suddenly start wondering, “When is it my turn?”  Even pastors go through this:  A fellow pastor starts a new ministry or a new church and it’s growing like wildfire. But then what do we do?  We start to think, “How do I compare?  Am I not doing a good enough job?”

In 1 Samuel 18, we see people celebrating a great victory over the Philistines.  These women were singing about how Israel, the people of God, had defeated their great enemy, the Philistines, relieving oppression and bringing freedom to the people.  This was a great day of celebration for Israel.  God had done something great for his people, but somehow Saul couldn’t celebrate.  He couldn’t find joy in what God had done because of this one little line: “Saul has struck his thousands, David his ten thousands.”  It only took a few words to spark this heart of comparison within Saul, causing him to take his eyes off of what God was doing.

There are no winners in the comparison game.  When we compare ourselves to others, it only leaves us feeling inadequate, or even worse, it makes us feel superior. If we live a life of trying to measure up, we will always fall short.   What should we do instead?  Look at what God is doing and celebrate.  The less life is about ourselves and more about God, the greater the joy we will experience.

Prayer

Lord, help me to keep my eyes on You and what You are doing.  I pray that you will free me from comparison and envy, so that I will be able to celebrate what You are doing.  Fill me with a greater joy as I experience more of you.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 35

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 18:9-14: He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Questions to Consider

1. How does the Pharisee measure his worth? How does the tax collector measure his worth?
2. Who do you compare yourself to?
3. How does focusing our eyes on God free us from comparison?

Notes

1. The Pharisee measures himself again the tax collector. His worth comes from his own righteousness and good works, and how he is better than this tax collector and other sinners.  On the other hand, the tax collector measures his worth in comparison to God himself, which is why he appeals to God for mercy.  He knows that he is a sinner in view of who God is and his only hope is the mercy of God.  If the tax collector compared himself to the Pharisee, at best, he would strive to do good works and be as good as he, but since his life is in view of God’s mercy, his best is now to be exalted by God.
2. Personal reflection question
3. When we focus our eyes upon God, we are freed from comparison and envy because we no longer measure ourselves against other people. Focusing on Jesus frees us from thinking about how to be better or more righteous than other people, because we know that everything is dependent on the mercy of God.

 Evening Reflection

Focusing our eyes on Jesus can set us free from ourselves.  How did you feel today as you strived to keep your eyes on Him?  Did you feel freer and more joyful?  Take some time to pray or journal about how living in view of God’s mercy has blessed you this day.

Editor’s Note: The AMI Quiet Times for March 30-April 5 are provided by Pastor Shan Gian of Symphony Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

1 Samuel 17:41-47

And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. 42 And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance.43 And the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.” 45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.”

On this battlefield, the Israelites were cowering because of this giant, the mighty warrior Goliath, and the army of Philistines behind him. And as the Israelites looked at the battle in front of them, they were fearful and hopeless because they had no chance against such a great foe.

We face battles in our lives all the time, and often these situations look hopeless: How can we deal with family problems? How can we possible get out debt? How can we possibly manage all of the different things going on in our lives? What do we do about the burdens in our lives? And how can we overcome the sin and darkness in our hearts? What hope do we have?

David’s hope in this situation (and our hope) is that… the battle is the Lord’s. Like us, David went into this battle with absolutely no chance on his own. Goliath scoffed at him because he was just a little kid with a wooden stick and some rocks, coming at a mighty warrior armed with sword, spear and javelin. But as David approached the giant, he did not fear because he knew this was not his battle to fight, but that God himself would win the day and that it is the Lord who saves. Our salvation comes from God, who makes our battles His battles.

This Passion Week, let’s remember and celebrate what our Lord Jesus did for us. He himself walked the road to Calvary, took the cross, bore our sins on it, shedding His blood for us. Why? Because the battle is the Lord’s—our God made our battles his battles.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I thank you for taking my burdens on the cross. On my own, I have no hope to face all of the battles and burdens in my life, but I can walk forward in confidence and faith because I know that my battles belong to You, for you are the God of my salvation. Thank you, Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 34

Lunch Break Study

Matthew 11:28-30: Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 

Questions to Consider

1. What kind of rest does Jesus offer us? How does the cross of Jesus Christ give us rest?
2. Why do we as Christians still feel burdened and heavy laden at times?
3. Reflect on burdens that you are you holding on to. How does the rest of Jesus help you?

Notes

1. The rest that Jesus offers us is a rest for our souls. He’s not talking about a physical rest but a spiritual one. Because Jesus took the cross for our sins, he did the work that we could not do in atoning for our sins, thereby taking the burden of our sins off of us. Jesus offers us rest because when we depend upon him, we no longer have any burden to earn our own righteousness or salvation.
2. We get weary and heavy laden as Christians when we stop depending on Jesus and put this burden back on our own shoulders.
3. Personal application question.

 Evening Reflection

As you have been reflecting on what Jesus has done for us through this Passion Week, how do you feel about the burdens and struggles that you are facing in your life? Are you experiencing the rest that Jesus offers us? Take some time to journal and remind yourself that the battle is the Lord’s.

Editor’s Note: The AMI Quiet Times for March 30-April 5 are provided by Pastor Shan Gian of Symphony Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

1 Samuel 16:6-12

When [the sons of Jesse] came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

In Malcom Gladwell’s book Blink, he writes about a man named Bob Golomb who is an incredibly successful car salesman.  The average car salesman sells ten cars per month, but for over a decade, Golomb has sold on average about twenty cars per month.  What was his secret?  Gladwell tells us that “He assumes that everyone who walks in the door has the exact same chance of buying a car.”  Golomb himself said, “You cannot prejudge people in this business… You have to give everyone your best shot.”

Golomb has great success selling cars because whenever someone would walk into his dealership, he would not assume anything about them.  A man could walk in wearing a hoodie and sweatpants, but Golomb would approach him the same way he would to a man wearing an expensive business suit.  Golomb was able to sell so many more cars than his fellow car salesmen because no matter who came to him, he would strive to see beyond their appearance and assume their potential to buy a car and give them his best shot.

This sounds like a great philosophy, but how bad are we all at this?  If we just look at Samuel in this passage, he is a prophet, a man who speaks with and for God, but even he struggles to do this!  Looking only at his appearance, he sees Eliab and thinks, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.”  Samuel was looking at these sons of Jesse and only seeing the outer appearance.  We all do this all the time.  We meet someone, and we see how they look or how they act and we make judgments about them:  “That girl could be an awesome leader” or “That guy he’s not smart enough to be useful here.”

But the Lord declared, “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”  Imagine if we would look at people and not see them with our human eyes, judging by their appearance or manner or dress, but instead see them with the eyes of the Lord with a desire to see their hearts.  Maybe we could emulate Bob Golomb and strive to see the potential in every person and discover God’s love for them.

Prayer

Father, I pray that you will open my eyes to see Your love for every person.  Help me to remember that every person I encounter is someone made in Your image.  I pray for eyes to see each person and love them as You do.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 33

Lunch Break Study

James 2:1-9: My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 

Questions to Consider

1. What does James say is wrong with showing partiality?
2. Why is it difficult to fulfill the “royal law” and love our neighbors as ourselves?
3. How can you be “doing well” (v. 8) today and share the love of Jesus with your neighbor?

Notes

1. In the church that James was addressing, there was this issue of favoritism, causing divisions within the church. Some in the church seemed to be favoring the rich people in the congregation and giving them seats of honor, while those who were poor were relegated to lower positions.  James tells us that showing partiality or favoritism puts up walls between people.  When we do this, we create distinctions between people and we are judging others with evil thoughts.  We are seeing our fellow brothers and sisters with human eyes.
2. It is difficult to love others as ourselves because we are so prone to looking at others by the outward appearance. Though we might not be making judgments of others just because of their looks, it could be about their wealth, status, or even how well we get along with them.  Even as Christians, we find it hard to love our neighbors because we don’t always look at others as God does.
3. Personal application question.

 Evening Reflection

Did God open your eyes today to see people that He loves?  Was there anyone with whom you found it difficult to see past their appearance?  Reflect on God’s love for you and for your neighbor and pray for Him to keep opening your eyes to see others as people made in His image.

Editor’s Note: The AMI Quiet Times for March 28-29 are provided by Christy Chang of Grace Covenant Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Heb. 12:2 (NIV): Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

When I was in college, I perpetually mismanaged my time on the weekends.  I would hang out late into the night with my friends, sleep in, say yes to any social invitation that seemed fun, and lived most Saturdays in denial that there were deadlines to meet on Monday.  Then Sunday morning would roll around, and school work all of a sudden became my top mental priority – so much so that I would squeeze loads of information onto index cards and sneakily go over them during the Sunday sermon, my Bible conveniently shielding them from view.  If the service went a bit long, I would grow antsy and rudely pull out my planner to make to-do lists and schedule things for the upcoming week. If I had been the owner of a smartphone, I would have most definitely expanded my multi-tasking behavior by checking email or scrolling down a social media feed.

While my church etiquette has improved since my college days, a closer examination of my life reveals that the heart issue behind that behavior persists: I struggle with entering deep, sustained moments with God or even entertaining it as a passing thought many days.  My mind often wanders to worries and future plans; it grows restless until I’m measurably productive, whether it’s “spiritual” productivity (filling more pages in my journal or working towards finishing a Christian book) or general productivity (running a few miles while praying or writing lessons while listening to a sermon).  These combinations aren’t necessarily wrong, but it can be harmful to my heart when they replace a time with God that is silent and still.

A well-ordered heart takes time to develop; it requires discipline that is built gradually and with persistence.  It forces us to finally admit what we try to ignore amidst busy schedules and earthly plans: that underneath all this striving, there’s an empty feeling inside of us.  All our ambitions will fall short of giving life meaning.  I’m slowly learning that unless I allow God to expose the parts of my heart decaying beneath the appearance of health and order, I won’t ever experience what it feels like to have a well-ordered heart.  A heart that is so fixed on Christ that it can endure whatever hardship or overcome the strongest temptation because it is sustained by a deep friendship with Jesus.  For those with well-ordered hearts, life’s purpose is no longer to become financially successful or complete some noble humanitarian deed or live a life that would garner hundreds of likes on Instagram.  Pastor John Ortberg describes a well-ordered heart as one that is organized around what Jesus would think, say, and do in our place.  And that begins during our alone time with God, when we become available for His voice to penetrate our hearts.  God can’t speak to us when we’re too busy multi-tasking.  Lord, let our hearts desire just one thing.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 32

Editor’s Note: The AMI Quiet Times for March 28-29 are provided by Christy Chang of Grace Covenant Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Job 27:1-5: And Job again took up his discourse, and said: “As God lives, who has taken away my right, and the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter, as long as my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils, my lips will not speak falsehood, and my tongue will not utter deceit. Far be it from me to say that you are right; till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.

I recently introduced the habit of journaling to my class, and they were asked to spend the beginning of the period writing about whatever came to mind.  A cheeky little sixth grader promptly raised her hand and asked if I was going to read her journal; it was clear that my answer would determine how pithy her entry would be.  In my eagerness to have them experience true, unfiltered journaling, I announced that if they didn’t want me to read this entry, the students could write a “p” for “private” on the corner of the page and circle it.  Many of them approved this proposal and started writing away.

I’m not sure how resolutely I intended to keep this promise as it left my lips, but as soon as class was dismissed and the journals were neatly stacked on my desk, there was nothing more tempting to me in that moment than to read the very pages I pledged to not read.  So after a brief, hardly identifiable struggle against my better judgment, I gingerly paged through each entry marked with a circled “p” and read them all.

If I were to be completely honest with myself, I’d have to sadly admit that demonstrating integrity matters more to me when I’m around people than when I’m alone.  It’s more motivating to do the right thing when it visibly strengthens my reputation and when acting otherwise might result in being judged or disappointing someone.  But when no one is around, my truest self is revealed — the self that often resembles nothing like the self that presents herself at family group or at Sunday service. The self that, on a recent visit to New York, stopped by a hotel to use the restroom and then decided to sneak herself into the complimentary breakfast area and indulged in an English muffin.  And some scrambled eggs.  And some bacon.  All while sitting at a table as a perceived patron, doing my morning devotions – not bothered enough by the irony of my actions to leave before helping myself to another scoop of eggs.

My pastor or friends or family group members may never know about these private moments of defeat (well, I guess they might now), but they don’t just vanish away.  Each of those little decisions does its part in paving a path that is wide; the further I proceed, the more unrecognizable my sins will become to my hardening heart.  Instead of leading a double life, I am called to live for an audience of One, who will give me the strength to overcome temptation so that I don’t live this life in vain. Let’s fight for a soft heart today, pressing on to live our private moments with integrity so that we can hear His gentle voice not just in theory, but powerfully in our daily lives.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 30-31

Editor’s Note: The AMI Quiet Times for March 19-27 are provided by Cami King of Journey Community Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

1 Samuel 31:8-13: 

⁸ The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. ⁹ So they cut off his head and stripped off his armor and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people. ¹⁰ They put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. ¹¹ But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, ¹² all the valiant men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there. ¹³ And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted seven days.

We find ourselves at the end of our journey with King Saul. It is certainly a tragic end and one marked by missed opportunity. Think about it: Saul was a man anointed with the Spirit of the living God to lead His people, a people given a special relationship with the God himself. Think of the amazing ways God could have worked through Saul in this position. More so than the tragic manner in which Saul died, I’m reminded again of the tragic manner in which he lived, squandering away such an amazing opportunity.

When God called David to become king in place of Saul, he described David as “a man after my own heart.” This is usually understood to mean a man who was like the Lord (in the same way we’d use the phrase “like father like son”). There is certainly validity in this interpretation. But another way to understand this phrase is as “a man after my own choosing” – in other words, someone whom God selected, God’s best for His people, not his people’s best for themselves. It is common knowledge that Saul was named King as a concession to the people of God who insisted on having a King (and prematurely so). And the legacy of Saul is what their own efforts accomplished for them.

I wonder how often we miss God’s best because we’re in too much of a rush to secure what we think is best for ourselves. And we do all of this forgetting that what God can do is far greater than what we could ever imagine. As Paul said, God is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…” (Eph. 3:20). If God’s best is far better than our wildest dreams (and I have some pretty lofty dreams), doesn’t it seem better to wait out for His best… even if we’re not exactly sure what it is just yet? I sure think so!

Prayer

Gracious Father, help me to wait for Your best in my life. All my needs and desires will be satisfied in the very best way by You. Heal my short-sightedness and give me Your perspective for my life through Your Word and my daily communion with You.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 29

Lunch Break Study

Read Galatians 6:7-10.

⁷ Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. ⁸ For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ⁹ And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. ¹⁰ So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Questions to Consider

1. In what ways might we mock God in our actions?
2. What are some ways you find yourself sowing to the flesh? What are some ways you can sow to the Spirit?
3. How does verse 9 encourage you? How does verse 10 challenge you?

Notes:

1. In the context of this passage, if we live for the world and for our flesh but expect that as “Christians” we will reap something other than corruption, we deceive ourselves and mock the Lord. Each of us may do this in varying ways.
2. We sow to our flesh when we follow our own way. This can manifest in countless ways in our lives. We sow to the Spirit when we submit ourselves to the Lord and follow Him (obeying the things of God).
3. Paul expects that we will get tired from sowing to the Spirit, but encourages us to keep at it because it’s well worth it in the end. Doing good to everyone whenever we have opportunity seems like a tall order, but it should challenge us to make the most of every opportunity in our relationships and sow to the Spirit by doing good.

 Evening Reflection

Are you a man or woman after God’s own heart? Can those around you look at God and then at your life and say, “Like father like son/daughter”? Furthermore, what specific ways has God chosen you to do His work (in your family, workplace, church community, etc.)? Spend some time reflecting on these things and ask the Lord to enable you to do good to all as He leads and to make you more like Jesus.

Editor’s Note: The AMI Quiet Times for March 19-27 are provided by Cami King of Journey Community Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

1 Samuel 31:1-7 

¹ Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. ² And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. ³ The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers. ⁴ Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. ⁵ And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him. ⁶ Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together. ⁷ And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. And the Philistines came and lived in them.

As I read through this passage and imagine Saul taking his final breath, I can’t help but think of my grandmother who died last month. My mother told me of my grandmother’s final moments. She was weary from a long life and from battling illness but absolutely at peace. She lay in bed, listening to hymns (“Precious Lord Take My Hand” to be exact) as my mother and father held her hands and prayed her into the presence of God. In prayer and worship she breathed her last.

I’m also reminded of a story told by Tony Campolo about the death of his father-in-law. He’d not been speaking at all because of his health condition, but one morning at 6 am he shot up in bed and said, “O grave, o death! Death, where is your sting? Grave, where is your victory? Praise be to God who giveth me the victory!” And then he repeated it a second time a little louder. And then a third time he shouted these words, “with full triumph in his voice” and “laughing at the satanic forces…” Then he leaned back in bed and died. In shouts of triumph he breathed his last.

Saul didn’t die in either of these ways. He was fearful and calculating to the last moment. He died the same way he lived – by his own hand.

These stories should sober us. Few people walk around with the imminence of death at the forefront of their mind. We get married, pursue careers, have children, spend money, spend time, plan out our lives, even serve the Lord as though tomorrow is promised. But it isn’t. The question then becomes, will we live life in such a way (with eyes fixed on God and life spent building His Kingdom) that our death is one of peace and triumph? Or will we live by our own hand (eyes fixed on ourselves and life spent building our own kingdom) and find that we die in the very same way? The choice is ours.

Prayer

Lord, help me to live well so that when my day comes to leave this earth I can die well too. Help me to live each moment knowing that the next isn’t promised. Not in fear or anxiety, but in a fervent commitment to the only thing that will last – Your Kingdom. May I make choices today that position me to breath my last breath in a way that honors You.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 28

Lunch Break Study

Read James 4:13-17.

¹³ Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— ¹⁴ yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. ¹⁷ So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

Questions to Consider

1. In what ways do you “boast in your arrogance” as it relates to how you spend your time and plan your future?
2. How might the truth of verse 14 change how you approach each day?
3. How would it look for you to live with the mindset James prescribes in vs. 15? What would you do differently?

Notes:

1. Believers should live in light of the fact that Jesus will return. But instead, much of what we do and how we think is based on the present world and things we can see. This manifests in different ways for each of us.
2. All our plans and choices should be in light of our complete dependence on God (even for the gift of life itself).
3. Living for eternity will look similar for all of us in some general ways, but different for each of us in more specific ways. We might prioritize prayer over TV or missions over excessive vacationing or allow the things of God to direct our next move instead of our plans for career advancement (not that these things are necessarily mutually exclusive).

 Evening Reflection

Working with the young adults in my church, I’ve come to learn that the biggest reason people move from one city to another is because of their job. I think this is OK (I’m guilty of this myself), but what if as Christians our primary motivation for how we spend our time and even where we live was our desire to participate in the Kingdom of God? Spend some time reflecting on what motivates you and what priorities govern how you structure your life. Ask God to give you a heart that seeks first His Kingdom (and trust that all the other necessary and important things that we need and even want will be added) and a vision of how that might practically look in your life.

Editor’s Note: The AMI Quiet Times for March 19-27 are provided by Cami King of Journey Community Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

1 Samuel 28:15-19:

¹⁵ Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” ¹⁶ And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? ¹⁷ The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. ¹⁸ Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. ¹⁹ Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”

Dr. David Jeremiah, in Turning Point Daily Devotional, tells of a man who set out to steal gas from a motor home. He attached his siphoning hose to the tank and went to work. But when police arrived on the scene, the man lay writhing on the ground because he’d unintentionally attached his hose to the motor home’s sewage tank. The point: sin always has unintended consequences.

As comical (and disgusting) as that story may be, there is nothing funny about sin and its consequences in our lives. But taking a look into my own heart and reflecting on the few years I’ve done ministry in the church, I’m not convinced that many believers have a real concept of the consequences of sin.

Most of us are spoiled by grace. We are highly aware of the grace God offers in Christ, the forgiveness of our sin, but easily lose sight of what Jesus actually had to overcome to make that grace available to us. Sin has real material and spiritual consequences. And without this awareness of sin, we cheapen the grace of God.

As Saul’s life comes to an end, we see a clear picture of the effects of rebellion against God. Saul’s rebellion resulted in his demise as the king of Israel and eventually the loss of his life. The Bible tells us that all sin leads to death (James 1:15). And while the consequences of sin may not manifest in our lives as literally as they did in Saul’s, the end is still the same.

If someone told you that your choices and behaviors would surely bring about your death, wouldn’t you be hard pressed to take an alternate course of action? But that’s precisely what the Bible tells us about sin, and yet we struggle to will ourselves to change course. May we not fall victim to the unintended consequences of sin. Every good thing we desire and pursue in sinful ways will always evade us. All life and every good thing are only found in persistent submission to the Lordship of Christ.

Prayer

Lord, so often I choose to do things my own way, oblivious to the end result of my choices. Please forgive me. Help me to surrender to You and Your ways so that I can enjoy the abundant life You offer in Christ.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 27

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 6:20-23.

²⁰ For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. ²¹ But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. ²² But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Questions to Consider

1. How would you answer Paul’s question in verse 21? What has been the fruit of your own sinful habits (try to be specific)?
2. Elsewhere, the Bible says Jesus has set us free (e.g. John 8), but here Paul talks about us being slaves to God. From this passage, how can both be true?
3. Spend some time reflecting on v. 23. What can you learn from this verse?

Notes:

1. The fruit of our sin is death – both physically and spiritually – that can come in the form of broken relationships, missed opportunities, wasted resources, regret, shame, etc.
2. Most of us define freedom as choosing to do whatever we want, but true freedom is choosing to do what enables us to do what we want (there is a difference). Sin leads to bondage, where we are enslaved to our patterns of sin whether we want them or not. But choosing to submit ourselves to the Lordship of Christ (even though it looks like slavery) leads to freedom from sin, so that we are able to choose what we want to do and what’s best for us and enjoy abundant life.
3. In the economy of sin, we work our whole lives only to receive a “pay check” of death. Death is what our sinful efforts earn for us. But in Christ, we are given a free gift of eternal life. We don’t work for it and earn a “pay check” from God. We simply receive.

 Evening Reflection

In C. S. Lewis’ book The Screwtape Letters, an older demon counsels a younger demon about how to lead humans away from God. He explains, “It does not matter how small the sins are, provided that their cumulative effect is to keep the man away from the Light.… Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”

Take some time to reflect on this quote and what it means in your life. Are there any “small” sinful practices in your life? Are there brief but habitual moments of rebellion? Spend sometime offering these things to the Lord and ask for His help in choosing a different course.

Editor’s Note: The AMI Quiet Times for March 19-27 are provided by Cami King of Journey Community Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

1 Samuel 28:3-7: 

³ Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. ⁴ The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. ⁵ When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. ⁶ And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. ⁷ Then Saul said to his servants,“ Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.”

One pastor tells of a time, just after the planes crashed into the World Trade Center in NYC, when he was unable to contact his son who lived in the city. He describes the anxiety he felt for the few days after the incident when he so desperately needed to hear his son’s voice but couldn’t reach him. Thankfully, his son was OK.

There is a definite anxiety when we can’t get in touch with those we love and depend on. This anxiety is heightened in moments of desperation. Have you ever felt the anxiety of silence when you sought God’s help in a desperate situation? There are countless reasons we may find ourselves asking and not hearing, most of which we won’t discuss today. But from Saul we see the workings of one very dangerous reason.

In today’s episode, the posture of the Lord toward Saul (silence) was in direct response to Saul’s posture toward God (rebellion). God spoke clearly to Saul throughout 1 Samuel and Saul repeatedly went his own way. What we learn of Saul is that he really only sought God for his own ends. And when God said something Saul didn’t want to hear, he ignored God (1 Samuel 15). Saul was not actually seeking the will of God. He was seeking God’s help in accomplishing his own will. And when God refused, Saul tried to get what he wanted through other means (v. 7). Truth be told, God had spoken on this issue through Samuel (who told Saul that his rebellion would lead to his demise). But it wasn’t what Saul wanted to hear, so he chose not to receive it.

Discerning the voice and leading of God is not an easy thing. But we can learn from King Saul what not to do. May we seek God for the purpose of following His will (not using Him to accomplish our own) and may we walk faithfully in accordance with God’s Word when He does speak (and not choose to ignore Him because we don’t like what we hear).

Prayer

Lord, help me to hear Your voice and to follow You wherever You lead. Help me surrender my own plans to Your plans, trusting that You know what is best. Just as Samuel said to You long ago, “Speak Lord, Your servant is listening.” You are worthy of my trust and obedience. Your way is the only way that leads to life.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 26

Lunch Break Study

Read John 6:60-69.

⁶⁰ When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” ⁶¹ But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? ⁶² Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? ⁶³ It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. ⁶⁴ But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) ⁶⁵ And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

⁶⁶ After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. ⁶⁷ So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” ⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, ⁶⁹ and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” 

Questions to Consider

1. Why did many of Jesus’ followers turn back? (v. 66)
2. Why did Simon Peter stay with Jesus even after the difficult teaching? (v. 68)
3. What are some “hard sayings” you’ve received from the Lord (commands to follow, teachings from Scripture, etc.)? Have you accepted or rejected them, obeyed or disobeyed? How do these verses challenge and/or encourage you to follow Christ even when it’s tough?

Notes:

1. Many of Jesus’ disciples turned back and no longer followed him because they felt His teachings were too hard to follow. His commands seemed too hard to obey.
2. Peter (who spoke for himself and some of the others) knew that even if the teachings and commands Jesus gave were difficult, they were true. He realized that the road Jesus offered them, as narrow as it was, was the only one that would lead to eternal life.
3. If we’ve rejected God’s words that are difficult, we should feel challenged to receive them because they are true and life-giving. If we’ve accepted difficult teachings of the Lord, we should feel encouraged because God’s way, even though sometimes tough, will lead us to eternal life. That’s a promise.

 Evening Reflection

Are you seeking direction from the Lord? Spend some time reflecting on your motives for doing so. Do you truly desire to do the will of God (whatever it may be) or are you just seeking God’s help and power in accomplishing your own will? When God does speak to you, are you willing to follow even if it’s not what you want to hear? Reflect on your time in the Word, in prayer and in the community. Has God already spoken to you previously on the matter through one of these means, maybe in ways you didn’t wish to receive? Pray and ask God to help you to hear His voice and to respond with a receptive heart of obedience.

Editor’s Note: The AMI Quiet Times for March 19-27 are provided by Cami King of Journey Community Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

1 Samuel 26:17-25:

¹⁷ Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.” ¹⁸ And he said, “Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands? ¹⁹ Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the Lord who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering, but if it is men, may they be cursed before the Lord, for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the heritage of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ ²⁰ Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the Lord, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

²¹ Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake.” ²² And David answered and said, “Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. ²³ The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. ²⁴ Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation.” ²⁵ Then Saul said to David, “Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them.” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

Do these verses sound familiar? Well, if you’ve been following along with us in our study of King Saul, then they should. This is not Saul’s first time pursuing David only to come to his senses and relent. In an almost verbatim repetition of what we just read, Saul acknowledged his wrong and repented.

Yet with all the emotional language of apology and remorse, here again we find Saul doing the same thing, in the same place, offering the same apology for the exact same behavior. Saul is the definition of a repeat offender. But before we condemn him for his knuckle-headed behavior, let’s think of all the times we ourselves were repeat offenders. How many times have you fallen victim to the exact same sins? To whom have you offered apologies so many times that you now sound like a broken record?

I’m sure we can all empathize with King Saul in this way. Even with all our greatest efforts and with God’s grace to make the truth clear to us, we are prone to wander from the truth and fall back into our old patterns of sin. In the Hillsong song “All for Love” the songstress asks of the Lord, “How many times have I broken your heart?” If we were to stop for a moment and think about the times we’ve returned to the sin from which Jesus died to free us and the broken heart of God as a result, it may be too much to bear. But the song quickly follows this pondering with the powerful truth, “But You still forgive me if only I ask.”

And that is true for us today. We, like Saul, are repeat offenders. But our heavenly Father is faithful even in our persistent struggles. May this truth empower and compel us toward a different course of action and lead us back to the arms of our loving Father whose grace is still sufficient for us.

Prayer

Gracious Father, I am sorry for the times I’ve wandered away from Your truth and returned to my life of sin. Please forgive me and help me to take hold of the freedom from sin that I now have in Christ. Thank You for Your covenantal love that is everlasting, for Your mercy that is new every morning, and for Your grace that is sufficient even in my weaknesses.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 25

Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 4:14-16.

¹⁴ Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Questions to Consider

1. What does it mean to “hold fast to our confession”?
2. In what ways does verse 15 comfort you in light of your struggle against temptation and sin?
3. What keeps you from confidently approaching the throne of God? Why is it so important that you overcome those things and go to Jesus in your times of need?

Notes:

1. The writer of Hebrews encourages us not to waver in our faith, but to stand firm in what we claim to believe. We do this in response to and because of the faithfulness of Christ to us (as our High Priest). And bound up in our faith is not merely belief (cognitive ascent) but faithfulness to what we believe (the actions that follow).
2. Jesus understands our struggles. It’s always more comforting to come to someone who understands what we are facing. Not that he excuses our sin (obviously that’s not the case), but he does understand experientially the temptations we face.
3. Most people are kept from God, especially in situations of sin, for one of two reasons. First, they feel too guilty to come to Him (sin has become bigger than the cross). Second, they have misappropriated grace so much so that they don’t even bother to repent anymore (the weight of sin and what the cross actually overcame has been lost). No matter what, we have to come to Jesus because He is the only one from whom we can receive the mercy and grace we so desperately need.

 Evening Reflection

What are the areas in your life where you struggle with being a “repeat offender”? What are those sins and habits that you struggle to overcome? Spend some time surrendering these areas to God. Repent of the sin in your heart (be specific) and ask for the power of the finished work of Christ to help you to overcome. Consider seeking accountability and being proactive with the Holy Spirit in receiving help in your areas of need. Above all, remember our High Priest, Jesus, who has already walked the path we must walk and made a way for us to live in victory over sin.