Editor’s Note: The AMI Quiet Times for March 10th-18th are provided by P. Yohan Lee of Radiance Christian Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

1 Samuel 15:20-21

And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.

I cannot prove this scientifically, but I think “Saul” lives at my house in the form of a five-year old boy. I tell my son, “Saul (not his real name), clean up your room.” When I come back five minutes later, I see him in the middle of his still messy room, playing with legos or whatever toy he is into this month. Again, I tell him, “Saul, I told you to clean up your room!” Saul replies, “I did clean up my room. Look, I put the books away.” Sure, the lad has put the books away, but there are still a ton of legos, action figures, and craft supplies out all over the place.

Here’s the deal: for the life of me, I don’t know if my son really thinks his room is clean and has fulfilled my wishes, or if he is giving me that lame explanation hoping it will simply appease me. Similarly, when I read Saul’s explanation (15:20-21) as to why he did not carry out the Lord’s instruction to totally wipe out the Amalekites (15:1-3), I do not know if Saul really thought he was obeying, or if he was just hoping this lame explanation would appease Samuel and/or God. Here’s the real point: partial obedience is not the same as obedience; in fact, partial obedience is just another form of disobedience.

What are the things in which you know you are only giving partial obedience (or total disobedience)? In my experience, the two most common areas of partial obedience are: forgiving/loving and giving. I know so many people who do not forgive, but carry grudges. In better cases, they are certainly not loving their neighbor, but they live in a state of toleration with estranged brothers/sisters in Christ. Sure, estranged toleration is better than loathing, but it is not love. In terms of giving, many people know they need to give and have a genuine conviction about tithing; but they partially obey, rationalizing that some is better than none. Of course, in your life, there are probably other examples. What are the things you need to fix in obedience (total or genuine) to Christ? Let’s take steps today to live in genuine obedience to God.

Prayer

Lord, show me areas in my life where I am only living in partial obedience.   Give me an opportunity this day to obey you, even in small areas. And give me courage and wherewithal to fix these areas, as well as the power to change.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 9

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree

planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in its season,

and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does, he prospers.

4 The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

Questions to Consider

1. By implication, verse 1 shows the progression of a wicked man. What is it, and have you seen this slide in your life or another’s?
2. How does this Psalm describe the righteous person?
3. How does this Psalm describe the wicked person?

Notes:

1. The progression goes from active to inactive: The wicked man will first walk with wicked counsel, and then he will stand with sinners; finally, he gets comfortable and sits with scoffers. Most will not fall into great sin in one day, but rather a series of compromises and apathy to God will eventually lead into major trouble.
2. The righteous delight in and take to heart God’s word. They will be fruitful (grow) in the faith and ministry. They will be secure because they are firmly rooted in God.
3. The wicked are instable (blown away by chaff) and will eventually face the Lord’s judgment.

 Evening Reflection

Did you have an opportunity to obey the Lord today? Did you take that opportunity? Remember the Gospel is not, “Obey and you will be justified” but rather, “Because we are justified, we obey.” Is obedience to God a way you want to live because you are so thankful that He died for you? What is your motivation for living in obedience?

Editor’s Note: The AMI Quiet Times for March 2nd-8th are provided by P. Mark Chun of Radiance Christian Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

1 Samuel 14:24-30

24 Now the Israelites were in distress that day, because Saul had bound the people under an oath, saying, “Cursed be anyone who eats food before evening comes, before I have avenged myself on my enemies!” So none of the troops tasted food. 25 The entire army entered the woods, and there was honey on the ground. 26 When they went into the woods, they saw the honey oozing out; yet no one put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath, so he reached out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into the honeycomb. He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened. 28 Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father bound the army under a strict oath, saying, ‘Cursed be anyone who eats food today!’ That is why the men are faint.” 29 Jonathan said, “My father has made trouble for the country. See how my eyes brightened when I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much better it would have been if the men had eaten today some of the plunder they took from their enemies. Would not the slaughter of the Philistines have been even greater?”

When we think about growing in godliness, there are many factors that we can attribute to positive spiritual growth. We think about dedication to reading God’s word, faithfulness in prayer, serving, attending small group, and the list goes on. But one important thing that we often neglect in our pursuit of godliness is watching how we speak. With the exception of the heart and the mind, the tongue is probably the most sinful part of the body. Think of all the sin that comes out of our mouths: lying, slandering, gossip, put downs, cursing, boasting, just to mention a few.

From this story, we can add to that long list, the sin of making rash vows. Saul was an impatient man, and that lack of prudence can be seen in the words that spill out of his mouth with damaging effects. In the end, his oath becomes a curse on his own son. So often, we underestimate how much our words impact the lives of other people. Our words have incredible power, and a misspoken vow, an untimely oath, a passing curse, or even a flippant promise can cause great hurt and damage. How many families, friendships, and congregations have been undone by thoughtless words?

Personally, I didn’t realize how much my speech affected others until my son, Jeremiah, started speaking. When he was just a toddler learning how to talk, we were at home playing with his toys. But when one of them broke, he looked at me, looked at the toy, and then he said, “What a piece of crap!” Now, this might be a humorous example, but it revealed to me how much my words impact what my children say and believe. As we get older, we might think that our words don’t impact people very much; but personally, I believe our words carry more weight with age. If a child says something hurtful, it is easy to dismiss, but when an adult or someone in power misspeaks, it can cause a great deal of pain. Because our words can make such an impact, the Bible is clear that we should watch every word and that all our conversations should be seasoned with grace.

Prayer

Lord, we are a people with unclean lips and prone to hurt one another with the things we say. Help us to grow in this particular area so that our words build others up instead of tearing them down. Reveal to us the sin that comes from our mouths and lead us into repentance.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 8

Lunch Break Study

Ephesians 4:29-32 (ESV)

29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Questions to Consider

1. What is the importance of saying things at the right time and place?
2. Who is ultimately grieved by our corrupt talk?
3. How can we put away the clamor, slander, and malice that pollute our speech?

Notes

1. Even words that are good in themselves can be injurious when spoken in the wrong circumstance or in the wrong moment. The apostle Paul reminds us that our words should fit the occasion and the person.   It takes a great deal of discernment to speak in a way that builds others up consistently.
2. In the end, our words prove most painful to the Spirit of God. As much as we may hurt the intended recipient of our sinful dialogue, it is ultimately God that grieves over our misspoken words
3. Perhaps, the most effective way to clean up the elements of sin in our speech is to remember to be kind to one another and to have a tender heart for those whom you are speaking with.

 Evening Reflection

Is there something you said today that was rash, hurtful, or downright mean? When was the last time you evaluated the content of your speech and confessed them before the Lord? Like the prophet Isaiah, ask the Lord to purify your lips.

Editor’s Note: The AMI Quiet Times for March 7th-8th are provided by Andrew Kim of Radiance Christian Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

1 Samuel 14:4-7

4 On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez and the other Seneh. 5 One cliff stood to the north toward Mikmash, the other to the south toward Geba. 6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.” 7 “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”

When I think of Jonathan, the first word that comes to my mind is “friendship.”  Biblically speaking, we know Jonathan was the best friend of David, but even in this passage, we see that friendship was a vital part of Jonathan’s leadership style.  It’s not difficult to get people to follow you using force, positional power, or even fear and intimidation, but it is entirely a different matter to have people give you their heart and soul.  Clearly, there was something special about Jonathan that attracted people’s undivided friendship and loyalty. Even when faced with an impossible situation where Jonathan’s life hung on the balance, his armor bearer was willing to go with him heart and soul, even to death.  Wouldn’t we all benefit from a friendship like this?

Though most people think that they have what it takes to be a good friend, often there is no objective basis for that judgment.  Certainly, the number of friends that you have on your Facebook account is not proof that you are a good friend.  C.S Lewis, in his book The Four Loves, talks about the fact that before Romanticism in the 18^th century, friendship was viewed as the happiest and most fully human of all loves—the crown of life and the school of virtue.  Lewis, an expert in ancient literature, saw that historically men have believed that it was in our friendships where we learned how to fully love and develop our virtues; the reason being that out of all the loves, friendship is the least natural and the least instinctive. It takes very little virtue to love someone romantically; it also doesn’t take much character to love your family.  Jesus points this out when He says, “Don’t the thieves and tax-collectors love those who love them?”  Friendship is the great test of our virtue and the true litmus test of our character, specifically because it is the least necessary of human relationships (although still vitally important).

Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.”   As you might expect, unconditional love has to lie at the root of our friendships; and from there comes the security that your friends will stick with you through the highs and lows of life, as much as your family, children, even your spouse.  Unfortunately, many of us are not accustomed to seeing friendships at this level because we view our friendships as largely peripheral to our other relationships—good if you have it, but okay if you don’t.  Yet when faced with difficult times, having authentic friendships gives you something to hold onto.

There is also a hidden side to friendship that draws out our virtue.  C.S. Lewis, when his friend Charles Williams died, wrote this to describe the loss that his group of friends felt:  “In each of my friends there is something that only some other friend can fully bring out.  By myself I am not large enough to call the whole man into activity. I want other lights than my own to show all his facets.”  When his friend passed away, Lewis recognized that he would never see the unique reaction of his other friend Ronald to one of Charles’ jokes.  And instead of having more of Ronald to himself, he sadly realized that he had less.  From that observation, he makes the conclusion: “Two friends delight to be joined by a third, and three by a fourth, if only the newcomer is qualified to become a real friend.”  If we allow ourselves, the best of who we are can be drawn out as we expand our pool of genuine friends.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 7

Editor’s Note: The AMI Quiet Times for March 2nd-8th are provided by Andrew Kim of Radiance Christian Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

1 Samuel 13:8-14

8 He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. 9 So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. 10 As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. 11 Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, 12 I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” 13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince[a] over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

We live in a world where patience is losing its value. Remember when the Internet was first introduced, and you could hear the sound of the AOL dial up struggling to make that connection – only to hear your mom picking up the phone and that entire precious waiting wasted in a second? Today, we complain about lagging YouTube videos or long lines. We have entered into an era of instant gratification, and sadly this mindset is plaguing our spiritual lives as well. In many cases, waiting means losing, and we must do whatever it takes to win as self-sufficient people.

However, impatience is not a recent pandemic, but one that can be found in our historical roots, in the life of King Saul. Here in this passage we see that Saul is hiding in caves with his enemies surrounding him, his fellow soldiers abandoning him, and his heart wavering at the thought of death. After waiting seven days, he focuses on the situation and takes matters into his own hands. But when Samuel returns and rebukes Saul’s disobedience, Saul makes excuses, blaming the circumstances.

It’s easy to recognize Saul’s mistake and judge him for it, but I do want to give him some credit for some of his waiting – I certainly wouldn’t have lasted that long. Technically, he did partially obey the commands, but here we see that partial obedience is not obedience. One of the greatest tactics the enemy uses is for us to partially obey and think it is enough.  Charles Spurgeon writes that because of impatience, “We have missed most privileges, and have wasted many opportunities in which we might have honored God, might have been an outstanding example of Christianity, and might have greatly benefited our own souls. Affliction has been the fire which would have removed our imperfections, but impatience has robbed us of its purification. Impatience is unprofitable, dishonorable, and damaging; it has never brought us reward or any good, and never will.”  In Romans 5, we see that patience builds our character and leads us to an enduring hope of glory.

In the context of Saul’s mistakes, we learn that a man after God’s own heart is one who keeps God’s commands by trusting in His faithfulness and protection, despite the circumstances. Saul’s mistake was that his impatience led to faith in himself rather than God. This does not mean we are to only wait and not put in any effort; but we are to remind ourselves that God is in control. Patience is more than about just waiting; it is an act of worship.

Take a moment and reflect on areas in your life where you find yourself lacking patience or faith in Him. Whatever or whoever the situation may be, instead of creating a world of excuses, let us repent and have a heart of surrender and worship. There is something so sweet and intimate that develops when we wait and cling onto our Savior in the midst of trials and tribulations. I pray that we all may have a heart after God’s heart.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 6

Editor’s Note: The AMI Quiet Times for March 2nd-8th are provided by P. Mark Chun of Radiance Christian Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

1 Samuel 12:17-25

¹⁷ Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the Lord, that he may send thunder and rain. And you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking for yourselves a king.” ¹⁸ So Samuel called upon the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

¹⁹ And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king.” ²⁰ And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. ²¹ And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. ²² For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. ²³ Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. ²⁴ Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. ²⁵ But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.” 

In the course of life, it is important to realize that not every request that we make before God is actually legitimate or even good for us.  As a father of two children, I have had to deny many unwise and unhealthy requests, ranging from eating candy for breakfast to using all of their savings for video games.  Obviously, as a parent I have a clearer understanding of the long term effects of present decisions, so while they are young, my responsibility is to help my kids make good choices in life.  However, there will be a time when I will have to let them loose, allowing them to make their own decisions as well as live with the consequences.  It frightens me to some degree, but this is a natural part of growing up.

In relation to our illegitimate desires, God can go one of two ways: He can either choose not to answer the request and save us from a painful mistake, or He can answer the request and let us deal with the consequences, with the hopes that we learn from the eventual fall out.  Either way, God wishes the best for his children, and His goodness certainly cannot be questioned in whatever decision we make.

The miracle described in this passage is a frightening reminder that we must live with the consequences of our daily choices.  In this particular scenario, the Lord waits until the day of the wheat harvest to bring a storm with thunder and lightning.   Not only is this a case of unseasonal weather, it would have destroyed the wheat and significantly reduced the harvest.  In their desire to have an earthly king, the Israelites lost sight of what they would lose.  They failed to recognize that the society and their own lives would eventually suffer under the reign of human rulers.  However, in the midst of this sign of judgment, Samuel offers them the assurance that God will never forsake them.  As believers, this is our confidence as well.  Though we sin and face the consequences of our actions, the Lord will continue to love us and promises to never leave us.

Prayer

Lord, help us to remember that Your ways are higher than our ways, and that You know ultimately what is best.    Place a heart of trust within us so that we can live a life of obedience, even when things don’t make sense.  Also, give us wisdom and discernment so that we would know what to ask of You.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 5

Lunch Break Study

Read James 1:5-8 (NIV)

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

 Questions to Consider

1. Why is praying for wisdom so important to the Christian life?
2. What does it mean to ask for wisdom in faith?
3. How are wisdom, faith, and prayer connected?

Notes

1. Every Christian will go through difficult times, and only the wisdom of God will provide the divine vision and perspective to help us through. More than silver and gold, the person who desires wisdom will flourish and grow during the trials of life.
2. It is important to discern wisdom that comes from man versus the wisdom of God. Secular wisdom can be helpful in certain situations, but only the wisdom that comes from God, which is a gift, is able to help us deal with spiritual matters.
3. There is a close connection between faith, prayer, and wisdom. The person who asks for the wisdom of God has to have faith. Wisdom, then allows that person to persevere and grow in their faith.  Therefore, both wisdom and faith grow together feeding into one another.  Growth in wisdom is to understand that everything of faith is from God. Prayer is the means by which we exercise our faith by asking for this divine wisdom over and against other worldly things that we may desire.

 Evening Reflection

When is the last time you asked for the wisdom of God in faith?  What were some wise decisions that you have recently made?  What were some foolish choices in the recent past and the consequences of those decisions?  Reflect on the story of Solomon who asked for wisdom and a discerning mind instead of riches and fame from 1 Kings 3.

Editor’s Note: The AMI Quiet Times for March 2nd-8th are provided by P. Mark Chun of Radiance Christian Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

1 Samuel 12:1-5

And Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have obeyed your voice in all that you have said to me and have made a king over you. ² And now, behold, the king walks before you, and I am old and gray; and behold, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth until this day. ³ Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me and I will restore it to you.” ⁴ They said, “You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man’s hand.” ⁵ And he said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.” And they said, “He is witness.”

When I turned 30, I remember struggling with the concept of legacy, because I thought I had wasted most of my twenties and had accomplished little in my life.  By the word “legacy,” I’m referring to the idea of how you will be remembered and whether or not your life has made an impact.  As I thought of all the people that I knew who had gone on to become successful in business and other respected professions, for the first time, I seriously gave some reflection on what I was leaving behind as a pastor.    In hindsight, maybe I was overly self-critical because I was reading the biographies of people who had accomplished great things before their 30^th birthday.  For example, John Calvin wrote The Institutes of the Christian Faith during his twenties.  Charles Spurgeon was leading the London Tabernacle, a church of ten thousand people, before the age of thirty.  But this self-reflection provided a healthy sense of urgency as well.

Though we can’t measures ourselves against ‘outliers’ like Calvin or Spurgeon, it is still vitally important to use the years of our youth wisely.  The prophet Samuel reminds us of the importance of living a life of integrity from the outset of our youth and to not waste our time on frivolous things.  From the early years of his life, Samuel walked before the people of Israel with honesty, compassion, and a clear conscience.  And now as a gray-bearded prophet, this servant of God was able to use the authority that could only be conferred to someone who had been exonerated through a lifetime of character and conduct to both exhort and encourage the next generation.  In other words, Samuel’s ability to influence people did not just happen:  It was developed over a lifetime of faithfulness.

Most people don’t think about the type of legacy they will leave behind when they pass away.  Too often, we only give thought to our legacy in our fifties and sixties; but this makes little sense, because by the time you’re that old, there’s really not much you can do to improve your legacy.  You can certainly destroy your reputation at that age like many have done, but the older you get, the harder it is to leave a lasting imprint on those who will remember you.  Personally, I don’t really buy the fact that fifty years old is now the new thirty.  The time to think about living to leave a legacy is now.

Prayer

Father, help us to number our days wisely.  Instead of wasting our time living for things that will not ultimately matter, give us a sense of urgency for the things that will last for eternity.  Remind us today of the importance of integrity and the character and conduct that is needed to truly influence the world around us.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 4

Lunch Break Study

Read Ephesians 5:15-21 (NIV)

¹⁵ Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, ²⁰ giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. 

 Questions to Consider

1. Why is it important to make the best use of your time in the midst of an evil world?
2. How can we ensure that we are living wisely and avoiding foolishness?
3. Have you ever considered that activities like getting drunk are not just sinful but also a waste of time and opportunity?

Notes

1. The literal translation of verse 16 is that believers are commanded to “redeem’ the time. We are to extract what is precious and pure from that which has become corrupted by the evils of our day.  The apostle Paul is mindful of the fact that the ability to live for God changes from season to season, and while we can, we must make the most of every opportunity
2. If we understand the will of God, we will keep ourselves from wasting our time on foolish and costly detours in life. As 1 Thessalonians 5 reminds us, the will of God is to pray without ceasing, rejoice always, and to give thanks in all circumstance: This is a good starting point in discerning the will of God.
3. Sin impacts our lives in more ways than one. Time wasted on sinful pursuits should also bring us to sorrow and repentance.

 Evening Reflection

How did you spend your time today, and how can you make better use of the time God has given you?  Reflect on the productive things that you accomplished and think of ways to minimize wasted opportunities.

Editor’s Note: The AMI Quiet Times for March 2nd-8th are provided by P. Mark Chun of Radiance Christian Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

1 Samuel 11:6-14 (NIV):

When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger. 7 He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out together as one. 8 When Saul mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel numbered three hundred thousand and those of Judah thirty thousand.

9 They told the messengers who had come, “Say to the men of Jabesh Gilead, ‘By the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be rescued.’ ” When the messengers went and reported this to the men of Jabesh, they were elated. 10 They said to the Ammonites, “Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever you like.”

11 The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions; during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

12 The people then said to Samuel, “Who was it that asked, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Turn these men over to us so that we may put them to death.” 13 But Saul said, “No one will be put to death today, for this day the Lord has rescued Israel.” 14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingship.” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal and made Saul king in the presence of the Lord. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the Lord, and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration. 

Some years ago, I had a discussion with a friend on whether if would be preferable to have a large ministry whose leaders were powerfully gifted but lacking in character, or to have a small ministry where the leadership was high in character but not as visibly anointed.  It was a fun conversation because I think we both knew the right answer.  But admittedly, it was difficult not to entertain the thought of being highly successful without having to pay the cost of growing in integrity.  In a perfect world, we would want the best of both scenarios—high character leaders impacting large numbers of people with their anointing; but in an imperfect world, you can have one without the other.

In Saul’s first act as king, we see that he leads Israel to a resounding victory over their enemies, the Ammonites.  In the process, he appears to be more than a capable leader who is able to rally the people to a just cause, and coming up with a brilliant strategy to ensure the conquest of the enemy.   Even afterwards, he shows mercy towards those who questioned his right to be king.  On the surface, this appears to be the best possible beginning for the new monarch.  Perhaps, the Israelites were justified in asking God to give them a king and that everything would turn out well after all.

However, just because something appears to look good on the surface does not mean that trouble is not brewing underneath.  What is even more disturbing in this passage is that Saul is described as being empowered by the Spirit of God to accomplish this specific task of leading Israel into battle.  I think this is one of the saddest facts regarding the life of Saul, because even as the Holy Spirit worked through him, the Spirit of God never worked in him.  In reflection, given a choice, I realized that having a relationship with God through the Holy Spirit and yielding to His intimate work of inner transformation is more valuable than simply having some powerful gifts of leadership.  Remarkably, when we ask for the former, God graciously gives us the latter.

Prayer

Lord, it is easy to fall into the temptation of success without integrity and character.  There are always shortcuts in life.  Help me to yield to Your Holy Spirit as He brings about conviction of sin and leads me into the righteousness of Christ.  Also, help me to use the gifts of the Spirit to impact people—great and small—and to be faithful with every opportunity that comes my way.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 3

Lunch Break Study

Matthew 7:15-23 (NIV)

¹⁵ Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

²¹ Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?” ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”

Questions to Consider:

1. What is the good fruit that is the evidence of a true relationship with Christ?
2. How can people who don’t have a relationship with Jesus perform the mighty works described in verse 22?
3. What is the end result of doing ministry in the name of Jesus without having a personal relationship with Jesus?

Notes:

1. The good fruit that Jesus speaks of is a life of obedience to God. It doesn’t matter how big your church is or how many miracles you have performed. Without personal devotion and love towards God, these things are actually in vain.
2. Not surprisingly, we see many people who don’t have the right motives, using the Spirit of God and the name of Christ for personal gain. There are two possible answers:  Like Balaam (Numbers 24:2), God can choose to give His Spirit to non-believers to fulfill His purposes; or these signs could be performed through a deceiving spirit.
3. There is absolutely no benefit to doing ministry or good works in the name of Jesus without a saving relationship with Him. The end result is eternal separation from the One whose name was used for selfish desires and to promote personal gain.

 Evening Reflection

In our modern world, it is so easy to judge everything by the outward appearance, and to be tempted by the world’s standards of value and success.  In what ways are you attracted to outer success, whether in your choice of churches, career, or even relationships?   How can you learn to see through the eyes of God and judge people not by the outward appearance, but by their inward character?

Editor’s Note: The AMI Quiet Times for March 2nd-8th are provided by P. Mark Chun of Radiance Christian Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

1 Samuel 10:17-24 (ESV): Now Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mizpah. 18 And he said to the people of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’ 19 But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your calamities and your distresses, and you have said to him, ‘Set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your thousands.” 20 Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. 21 He brought the tribe of Benjamin nearby its clans, and the clan of the Matrites was taken by lot; and Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot. But when they sought him, he could not be found. 22 So they inquired again of the Lord, “Is there a man still to come?” and the Lord said, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” 23 Then they ran and took him from there. And when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. 24 And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? There is none like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

Most of the lessons that we learn from the life of Saul are of the negative type—meaning, things that we should avoid doing. However, as we read the account of his coronation, it seems evident that Saul was thrust into the kingship almost against his will. When given an opportunity to share about what happened between him and Samuel with his uncle, Saul leaves out the “minor” detail that he would be chosen to be the first king of Israel. And when in accordance with the prophecy, his name is chosen by lottery, instead of welcoming the chance to be king, Saul is nowhere to be found and the people literally had to take him out of his hiding spot.

At first glance, this reluctance to take the mantle of kingship may appear to be a sign of humility, but there is a clear distinction between modesty and a lack of courage. Saul suffered greatly from the latter because of his inability to conquer his insecurities. Perhaps a clue to Saul’s inner demon is found in the preceding chapter when he responds to Samuel by saying, “Am I not a Benjamite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my clan the smallest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?” In certain ways, Saul is paralyzed by his own negative self-perception and he is unable to respond to the call of God in a healthy manner. Later on, in his relationship with David, Saul’s insecurities would drive him into murderous fits of jealousy when the people begin to give greater praise to David.

In the course of doing ministry, I have met many people who struggle with this very issue; and to a degree, it plagues all of us. There are some who refuse to serve or take greater responsibility in leadership because of their insecurities. There are some who cannot rejoice over the success of others because it is perceived as a threat to their own sense of worth. Still others cannot take criticism and correction, even when it is constructive, because it threatens their ego. Sadly, even as God gives us everything that is needed to succeed, if we don’t deal with our personal insecurities, we will find a way to ruin the opportunity that God lays before us. If Saul would have simply cast his eyes away from his own deficiencies and placed his trust in the sovereign choice of God, the result of his life may have been different. In our own struggle against our insecurities, the fact that God has chosen us to be his children has to be the source of our security.

Prayer

Father, You have chosen us before the beginning of time to be co-heirs with Your Son. This is an honor and a privilege that is beyond our scope of understanding. And though we are not fit to be called to such a noble position, in Your grace and wisdom, You have found us to be worthy through Your Son.  Help us to realize that our sense of security doesn’t come because of what is or is not on our resume, but ultimately, our security comes from your great love for us.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 12:3-6 (ESV): For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Questions to Consider

1. How can we learn to be objective in our self-evaluation of the gifts God has assigned to us?
2. Why is this important to the healthy functioning of the church?
3. Is there a ministry that God is calling you to? How are you using your spiritual gifts?

Notes

1. In evaluating what we can contribute to the kingdom of God, it is vitally important to be sober in our judgment of ourselves. Literally, we have to be careful not to be intoxicated by our own egos and become “egoholics.”   However, this does not mean that we have to be somber in our self-judgment, because by God’s grace, everyone has been assigned to do something worthy for the glory of God.
2. This proper self-evaluation is important because it allows people to find their right place in ministry, and not be caught up in comparing themselves with other members of the church. Many times, we forget to honor the parts of the body of Christ that are not as visible and end up only applauding what is on the surface. For the church to be healthy, each member has to play their part.
3. This passage is a wonderful reminder that we are all responsible for honing and developing the spiritual gifts that God has graciously given to us.

 Evening Reflection

It has been said that God equips those whom He calls. Think of God’s call on your life. If you are unsure, ask the Lord to clarify it. If it is more certain, ask God to develop both your character and your gifts to fulfill His purpose.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

1 Samuel 9:1-27: There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth. 2 And he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people. 3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, “Take one of the young men with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.” 4 And he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did not find them.

15 Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed to Samuel: 16 “Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen my people, because their cry has come to me.” 17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people.”

One of the questions that have always come to my mind in reading 1 Samuel 9 is: “Why did God direct Samuel the prophet to choose Saul as the first king of Israel?”  For those who know the story, Saul was a horrible king who rejected God’s commands and was self-serving, murderous, and insane towards the end of his life.  God certainly could have kept this man from the throne, yet not only does He permit Saul to become king, but He is the active agent in the process of bringing Saul to power.  Was this simply a case of not reading Saul’s resume carefully and making an unfortunate hiring blunder?

Actually, God hired exactly who the people of Israel wanted.  They wanted a king just like the kings of the surrounding nations, and so they received the desires of their heart.  In the text, we are told that Saul was a head taller than any of the people.  From a human perspective, it would seem good for a king to, at least, look the part, but the problem is that in the Old Testament, descriptions of stature are only given to the villains (remember Goliath?).  In fact, the good guys are identified primarily by their ability to tend their flocks, like a good shepherd.  We read in the story that Saul falls woefully short in his capacity to find the animals in his care.  This is all a foreshadowing of the type of king that Saul would eventually become.

It is so easy to judge everything by its exterior appearance and forget about what truly matters.  Like the people of Israel, we too can become consumed by our desire to achieve the world’s standards of prestige, fame, good looks, and fortune.  A sobering thought is that God sometimes gives into our illegitimate demands in order to teach us the hard lesson of humility and to point us towards Christ.  Unlike Saul, Jesus, the true King, was lowly in stature and despised in the eyes of men.  Yet for those of us who believe, He is our Good Shepherd, who has come from heaven to earth to find us and to care for us.

Prayer

Father, help us to remember that You do not judge by the outward appearance, but by what is in the heart.  May we clothes ourselves in the humility of Christ and help us to reflect this attitude in the things that we desire and pray for.  Above everything else, purify our motives and give us pure hearts that yearn to do Your will.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 1

Lunch Break Study

Read James 4:1-6 (ESV): What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? ² You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. ³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. ⁴ You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? ⁶ But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Questions to Consider

1. What is the main cause of fighting and quarrels among believers according to James?
2. Why are prayers not being answered by God?
3. What is the solution that is given for these problems that we find in the church?

Notes

1. The primary reason for quarreling among Christians is the spiritual war that is within each of us. All of us are a mixture of good and evil, and simultaneously both saint and sinner.  Much of our conflict with others is simply an overflow of the uncontrolled conflict that resides inside our own hearts.
2. The main cause of unanswered prayer is asking with the wrong motives. Even the most legitimate prayer request can be corrupted by our selfishness and desire to satisfy our own passions.
3. Simply put, we need more of the grace of God. If we continue to depend on our sense of self-sufficiency and pride, we compound the problem by facing the opposition of God.  Humility releases the grace of God into all of the relational issues that we face in the church.

 Evening Reflection

Is there someone that you have been fighting with recently, perhaps your wife/husband, children, friend, etc?  How did your pride make the problem worse?  How can humility bring reconciliation?  Pray to the Lord for more grace in the midst of conflict in your life.

Editor’s Note: The AMI Quiet Times for February 28 and March 1 are provided by Mei Lan Thallman of GCC.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Col. 4:7-18 (NIV):  “Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. [8] I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. [9] He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.

[10] My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) [11] Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. [12] Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. [13] I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. [14] Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. [15] Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. [16] After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea. [17] Tell Archippus: ‘See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.’ [18] I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.”

It was a blessing for me to read about Billy Graham and his 3 decades of enduring lifelong partnership with his ministry teammates, of which the most familiar to the public are: Cliff Barrows, Grady Wilson, and George Beverly Shea. In this present age, we are bombarded and accustomed to hearing about the failures of leaders from all sectors of life.  So I found it refreshing, inspiring and hopeful in reading about modern day saints who have faithfully finished their God-given calling with such humility, grace, and integrity.  It’s no surprise to find that their personal and ministry success of serving together at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association were birthed out of the spirit, mind set, and effort of being a team.  Ruth Graham, Billy Graham’s daughter described her father’s ministry team in this way: “Not only has the ministry been a team effort, but what strikes me is that it has also been an effort made largely by the same team”.

As I read about Billy Graham’s team, I began to yearn prayerfully about being part of a dream team like what they had.  Through a deeper look at Colossians 4:7-18, I got a glimpse of apostle Paul’s missionary team, and how God powerfully used their team efforts to reach the lost, as well as to plant and nurture the young churches.  In the meantime, God began to shift my mindset to prayerfully work on becoming the kind of teammate it takes to make the dream team; that is, what I can do or contribute to have that team building attitude.

My prayer is that God would help me to be like these men: a faithful and encouraging teammate like Tychicus and Onesimus; a courageous and loyal teammate like Aristarchus, who when the ships are down one can count on him to be there even in suffering; a comforting teammate like Justus; a prayer warrior and pastor teammate like Epaphras; a single- minded, passionate, and daring teammate like Paul, who is not afraid to challenge others to fulfill their God- given potentials and hold them accountable; a brave, yet  a tender-hearted teammate like Barnabas, who is not afraid to come along side to work through conflicts, in order to make a stronger team (i.e., Paul and John Mark).  I want to imitate these people in becoming a better teammate in my family, small group, Sunday School, and church.

Our God is glorified and we are sanctified when with one Spirit, heart and mind, we work together as a team (Jn. 17:20-25).  Let’s take time to thank God for the teammates He has already blessed us with, as well as boldly asking Him to continue to grow and use us as a team builder in running the great adventure of faith.

Bible Reading for Today: Obadiah 1