Editor’s Note: AMI Quiet Times from May 1-10 are written by Dr. Ryun Chang, Teaching Pastor of AMI.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 Sam. 12:1-6 (ESV): And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. 4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5 Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”

What was once unthinkable has become a norm and we think everything is okay.  No, I’m not talking about same-sex marriage but our hearts in general and David’s heart in particular.

Prophet Nathan, having been told by God to confront David, knew better than to openly rebuke the king lest he lose his head.  Even the valiant Prophet Samuel was concerned that King Saul might kill him (1 Sam. 16:2), if the king knew that he was searching for the next king.  So, Nathan came up with a clever story of a rich man forcibly taking the only lamb belonging to a poor man, and then feeding that to his guest.  Burning with anger, David’s reaction—“The man who did this deserves to die”—was worthy of an Emmy, except this time he wasn’t acting.  He was being genuine only because nine months of seeming tranquility had numbed the guilt and made him feel as though he really was the caring king who looked after a poor widow.  Perhaps David was patting himself on the back for being such a swell guy.

But the holy God is neither blind nor stupid.  Nathan’s tactful approach, no doubt prompted by God, made David his own accuser: “You are the man!” said the prophet, adding, “Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes?” (v.7).

This turn of event suggests that hidden and unrepented sin desensitizes the guilt, and soon we feel well enough to judge others for the same sin we have committed.  Enjoy that while it lasts because that song and dance will soon end; in time, “your sin will find you out” (Num. 32:23); after that, there is only shame and misery.  But here is the good news: Any time is always a good time to repent of our sins through Christ and get right with God, for He immediately grants forgiveness and new strength to make things right.

Hopefully, you aren’t anywhere near where David went; regardless, always confess your sins to God and ask Him to give you the strength to avoid the path toward where what was once unthinkable may become a norm to our own demise.

Prayer

Father in heaven, if truth be told, it is increasingly difficult to remain holy in this world.  It seems like the guys who cut corners and are mean to people are the ones getting better grades or jobs—and have more clout and money!  Remind me daily, O Lord, that my home is not this world, but that I am here to serve You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 7

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Jn. 1:9-10 (ESV): If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  10  If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1 Jn. 2:1: My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.  But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

1 Jn. 3:6: No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.

Phil. 2:13: …for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Question to Consider

1. What does Apostle John assume about our penchant for sinning as believers?
2. As we are told to confess when we sin, what should be involved in our confession? What is repentance?
3. We have the Lord’s promise to help us, but what does that help really look like? How are we being helped to avoid falling into a sin trap that WILL cost all that is important to us?

Notes

1. Apostle John was neither an idealist nor a romanticist; rather, he was a realist. This man who, in his younger days, was called “A son of thunder” for his hot temper, understood sin. He knew we weren’t going to bat 1.000, but he also expected the believers to avoid habitual and intentional sins.
2. Confession involves the following: “I am sorry for what I did” (penitence); then to “I regret what I did” (remorse); and finally, “I’ll turn back from what I did” (repentance). Anything less than this is not genuine; it’s a foolish game we play with God.
3. The first line of God’s help is his church—not just showing up on Sunday morning for an hour of service but getting help from decent, compassionate, and gifted people who are there to encourage, teach, and even rebuke you so that you will live for God’s pleasure. Don’t battle sin alone!  It’s a lot more powerful than we may think.

 Evening Reflection

As you look back to this day in all seriousness, did you tell any fibs?  Did you make up stuff to avoid a moment of embarrassment?  I join you in confessing that these things come to too easy and far too frequently.  Before we make another vow to God, why don’t we just go to Him and ask for His mercy?

Editor’s Note: AMI Quiet Times from May 1-10 are written by Dr. Ryun Chang, Teaching Pastor of AMI.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 Sam. 11:22-7 (ESV)

So the messenger went and came and told David all that Joab had sent him to tell. [23] The messenger said to David, “The men gained an advantage over us and came out against us in the field, but we drove them back to the entrance of the gate. [24] Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall. Some of the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.” [25] David said to the messenger, “Thus shall you say to Joab, ‘Do not let this matter displease you, for the sword devours now one and now another. Strengthen your attack against the city and overthrow it.’ And encourage him.”  [26] When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she lamented over her husband. [27] And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.

When my children were little, they enjoyed watching Veggie Tales, a Christian cartoon show whose characters were entirely made up of vegetables.   In one episode, a fib told by “Junior” grows to be an enormous monster, growing with each lie to cover up previous lies.  David would’ve given Junior a run for his money for that role.

Here we see an acting performance worthy of Academy Award for Best Actor by David, the unanimous winner.   First, upon hearing that his scheme to kill Uriah—by putting him where the fighting was fiercest and then have the troop withdraw from him—was successful, David feigns consolation to Joab.  But Act II gets even better: David brings Bathsheba to his palace, ostensibly to take care of this forlorn widow, as if to say, “That’s the least thing I can do for my loyal servant who died while defending Israel!”  What a deceiver!  And this is the man of whom God said, “A man after [My] own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14)?

Folks, don’t underestimate our basic nature!  It isn’t without reason “Jesus would not entrust himself to [people], for he knew all men” (Jn. 2:24).  Contrary to the premise of social science, we don’t act badly because of inadequate social structure (programs, education, etc.) but because, at the foundational level, sin lives in us.  Paul states, “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature” (Rom. 7:18).

While those who go overboard on the doctrine of imputation of Christ’s righteousness on believers may disagree, the fact is, the moment we don’t “fix our eyes on Jesus” (Heb. 12:2), that is, keep our guards up against luring temptations and maintain our spiritual discipline, we will fall!  The sinful nature has been greatly diminished by the presence of the Holy Spirit and our intake of God’s word, but it has not been eradicated.

So today, guard your eyes so that you don’t import images that will hurt you and your significant relationships; increase time spent with God, in prayer and word.  Ask someone whom you trust to hold you accountable so that you don’t go where David went.

Prayer

Glorious and magnificent Father in heaven, how I adore and appreciate You.  Thanks for allowing the Holy Spirit to take residence in our hearts and giving us the Scripture so that we are more than adequately prepared to overcome our nature that seeks to go against Your will.  Thank You!

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 6

Lunch Break Study

Read Eph. 4:25 (ESV): Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another; Col. 3:9: “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices.”

Rom. 9:1: I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit; 1 Tim. 2:7: And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying; 2 Cor. 11:31: The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying.

James 1:14-5: But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. [15] Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Question to Consider

1. What matter seems to have been very important to apostle Paul at the personal level?
2. In light of James 1:14-5, why you think Paul took this matter so seriously?
3. What is the best way to avoid telling a lie? Is there something you need to rectify with someone at the present moment?

Notes

1. Evidently, personal integrity was very important to Paul; wherever and whenever lies are constantly told, trust will be broken, integrity shattered, and God’s work will take a step back.
2. Paul knew what the producers of Veggie Tales knew too well: Any sin, particular lying, will have a life of its own and unless properly dealt with (confession and repentance), it will result in disintegration of relationships: between spouses, parents and children, and pastors and their congregations.
3. Tell the truth no matter what, because the next time it will be even harder to do it and the stakes will be even higher. Of course, we cannot do it on our own strength; thus, we need to really trust God that he will honor our honesty and rectify the situation that will penalize us the least.  PRAY!

 Evening Reflection

Many of us have become dulled in our conscience that we aren’t even aware when we actually lie rather blatantly.  Look back to this day and ask the Holy Spirit to show you when or where you could have told the truth.  Pray for a clear conscience.  Perhaps you need to ask God for courage to tell someone the truth.

Editor’s Note: AMI Quiet Times from May 1-10 are written by Dr. Ryun Chang, Teaching Pastor of AMI.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 Sam. 11:10-5 (NIV)

David was told, “Uriah did not go home.” So he asked Uriah, “Haven’t you just come from a military campaign? Why didn’t you go home?” [11] Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my commander Joab and my lord’s men are camped in the open country. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and make love to my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!” [12] Then David said to him, “Stay here one more day, and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. [13] At David’s invitation, he ate and drank with him, and David made him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his mat among his master’s servants; he did not go home. [14] In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. [15] In it he wrote, “Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.”

When I was teaching in Mexico, I would go over the exam material beforehand so that my students would do well. That probably reflects the heart of most teachers, and it certainly captures the heart of God.

God “tests our hearts” (1 Thess. 2:4), but he “does not tempt anyone” (James 1:13); that’s what the enemy does. In theory, distinguishing between the two seems easy: testing is when we are being tested of the things we have learned for our growth; whereas, tempting is being tested of the things we don’t have the capacity to overcome so that we may fail. But in reality, it’s difficult to distinguish between the two. For instance, while the Greek word ekperizō is translated as “tempt” when referring to what the devil did following Jesus’ 40-day fasting (Matt. 4:1), it’s translated as “test” in Luke 10:25 when the lawyer was testing Jesus. But one thing is clear: whether tested or tempted, God won’t let us face it alone. Paul writes, “God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Cor.10:13b).

We see that God certainly does that for David here. David wishes that Uriah goes home and has a conjugal relationship with his wife Bathsheba, for only then her pregnancy could be explained away, and David will no longer be under suspicion.   However, Uriah is too honorable to do that; instead, he sleeps at the entrance to the palace. Stunned by his loyalty, David should have scrapped his scheme, but he doesn’t. Plan B is to make Uriah so drunk that he will go home afterwards; again he doesn’t. Having given two chances by God to stop the charade and confess his sins to Uriah, David opts for Plan C—which is murder. His life will never be the same again.

It could be a ringing phone or dog barking or a sudden remembering of a Bible verse you’ve heard a while back: consider that as God’s way of “provid[ing] the way of escape” (NASB) so that you may not fall into temptation and be miserable.

Prayer

Father, we praise and glorify Your Name. While we feel like we are inundated by more temptations now than before, the truth is we’ve gotten better at sinning. For the sake of temporary enjoyment, we’ve bartered our souls to our own dismay. Lord, help us to seize every opportunity You give so that we may not yield to these enticing temptations. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 5

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Chron. 21:1-8 (ESV): Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. [2] So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.” [3] But Joab said, “May the Lord add to his people a hundred times as many as they are! Are they not, my lord the king, all of them my lord’s servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should it be a cause of guilt for Israel?” [4] But the king’s word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came back to Jerusalem. [5] And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to David. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword, and in Judah 470,000 who drew the sword. [6] But he did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, for the king’s command was abhorrent to Joab. [7] But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel. [8] And David said to God, “I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly. 

Ps. 20:7 (ESV): Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Question to Consider

1. What was so bad about David taking the census? Why did it displease God?
2. In what sense did God provide a way out so that David didn’t have to fall into that temptation?
3. Joab wasn’t a spiritually-sensitive man; in fact, he was often in the flesh. Yet, God used him to try to stop David from doing something that would later cost the life of 70,000 people. What kind of attitude should we cultivate so that we would allow just about anyone to speak into our lives?

Notes

1. David had proclaimed and taught that Israel was going to trust God for victories, not the strength of its army or weapons. By counting the number of soldiers, David, in effect, was saying that he was going to depend on his army for victories. As a result, he broke what is called Suzerain-vassal covenant in which he was to completely rely on God for everything.
2. Even Joab, not known for spirituality, understood the implication of counting the number of soldiers. Thus, he tried to persuade his boss to drop the project but to no avail. That was the way out which God provided so that David didn’t have to give into temptation, but again, he didn’t listen.
3. The Bible is replete with examples of unlikable people (including a donkey) whom God used to speak into the lives of people more holier than them: God used the Babylonians to judge Israel, which puzzled Habakkuk and he asked God, “Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?” (1:13).  Thus, we should have a humble attitude.

 Evening Reflection

Are you so numb spiritually that you aren’t even aware of having been tempted today? Is our standard of holiness so low that we actually feel okay even though we typically yield to any and every kind of temptation? So, what temptation did you face today? Are you walking any differently than the world in areas that truly matter? Ask God for discernment so that you may know what temptations you are facing in the first place. Then, ask God to overcome them.

Editor’s Note: AMI Quiet Times from May 1-10 are written by Dr. Ryun Chang, Teaching Pastor of AMI.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 Sam. 11:5-9, 14-5 (NIV): The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.”

[6] So David sent this word to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent him to David. [7] When Uriah came to him, David asked him how Joab was, how the soldiers were and how the war was going. [8] Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king was sent after him. [9] But Uriah slept at the entrance to the palace with all his master’s servants and did not go down to his house. . . . [14] In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 15 In it he wrote, “Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.”

“I stay in bed all day,” responded the woman when asked about how she dealt with depression.  I was thinking about her later on when I myself stayed in bed all day after an argument with my spouse resulted in low spirits.  It surprised me how quickly I reached that low state from a previous “spiritual high”: fasting all day and worshiping the Lord in the evening.

As I read what David is up to after his tryst with another man’s wife, I’m reminded of the incredible velocity of a downward spiritual spiral: the man who once declared, “The LORD is my shepherd,” now acts like a common criminal.   Upon finding out Bathsheba’s pregnancy, David, after summoning home her husband Uriah from the battle, tells him, “Go down to your house and wash your feet” (2 Sam. 11:8).  David wasn’t being nice here; he was hoping that Uriah would sleep with his wife so that her pregnancy could somehow be explained away.  The plan to cover his tracks failed because Uriah, thinking about his comrades “camped in the open fields” (11), “slept at the entrance to the palace” (9).

Was David impressed?   Perhaps, but not enough to scrap his devious plan and come clean.  He now executes Plan B: the most heartless way to kill a man.  David writes a letter to Joab, Uriah’s boss, instructing him to place Bathsheba’s husband “in the front line where the fighting is fiercest” and “then withdraw” so that he will get killed (15).  Uriah carried that letter.  When informed of his death, the king “had [Bathsheba] brought to his house” (27), presumably under the pretext of looking out for his royal soldier’s widow.

Lesson?  Don’t get too cocky about your faith.  “If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall” (1 Cor. 10:12)!  Be fearful of what sin can do to us in a flash.  Do quickly what David should’ve done: “Uriah, I’m sorry; I’ve sinned against you and God.”  The best way to handle sin will always be confession and repentance!  There is no other way; do it quickly.

Prayer

I worship You, Heavenly Father.  It gives me the chills reading about how David, a man after [God’s] own heart (Acts 13:22), could act like a common criminal to hide his sin.  God, help me not to sin; when I sin, may I confess and repent right away, knowing that on account of Christ, I will be forgiven.  Thank you.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 4

Lunch Break Study

Read James 1:14-5 (NASB): But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. [15] Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

Eph. 4:26-7 (NIV): ‘In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, [27] and do not give the devil a foothold.

1 Jn. 1:9-2:1 (ESV): If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. [1] My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous

Question to Consider

1. What impression do you derive from James’ understanding of sin?
2. What seems to be Paul’s main concern when a sin has been committed?
3. What does John assume? Where is the source of his confidence when we do sin?

Notes

1. It is organic and has a life of its own. Once the seed of sin has been planted, it doesn’t stay as a seed; it evolves and grows until it bears bad fruit.   No sin is inconsequential: sooner or later, its effect will surface to take away something valuable from us: marriage, finance, health, or even life.
2. Paul’s concern seems that once sin has been committed, it must be dealt with a sense of urgency because an unaddressed sin may invite the Enemy to make the situation to go from bad to worse.
3. John is under no illusion that Christians can live a sinless life; while he expects them to sin less in frequency and intensity, he assumes that Christians will still sin. What interests him the most is what to do once a sin has been committed: confess it to Christ who then will advocate on our    behalf to the Father for acquittal.

 Evening Reflection

It is easy for some of us to go through an entire day without committing even one sin, so we think.  Turn off whatever is making sound or noise.  Close your eyes and bow your head and ask God: “Lord, show me how I fell short of your glory in my thoughts and actions especially toward others.” Then repent.

Editor’s Note: AMI Quiet Times from May 1-10 are written by Dr. Ryun Chang, Teaching Pastor of AMI.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Jn. 8:32 (NIV): “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

2 Sam. 11:4-5 (NIV): “Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.) Then she went back home. [5] The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, ‘I am pregnant.’”

Is Bathsheba getting a free ride here?  Isn’t this the reversal of situation in John 8 in which the Pharisees condemned only the woman caught in the act of adultery?  Yes, Bathsheba certainly participated in the adulterous affair; however, women in those days didn’t possess the power to stand up to men, much less a king.

For feminists, Queen Vashti, not Esther, would be their hero.   When her husband Xerxes, King of Persia, called upon Vashti to stand before the nobles to “display her beauty” (Est. 1:11), she “refused to come.”  For that, Vashti was banished for life.  Not much had changed five hundred years later in the Roman Empire where women remained a disposable property of men.   The Jews weren’t all that better: the House of Hillel, a leading school of Jewish thought, even allowed divorce over burnt meal.

Some who don’t care for the Christian faith see the Bible as endorsing anti-woman culture of the past and present.  A pamphlet by Atheist United reads, “As long as women regard the Bible as the charter of their rights, they will be the slaves of man.”  But, Rodney Stark, Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences at Baylor University, in his 1996 book entitled, The Rise of Christianity, declared, “They are all wrong.”  Noting that most Christians in the Roman Empire were women, he commented that it had a lot to do church “promot[ing] liberating social relations between the sexes and within the family, giving women more status than they enjoyed in Roman society.”

But in the antiquity, women weren’t treated with the kind of respect that God would later tell the husbands to bestow on their wives (1 Pet. 3:7).   So, on that fateful night, King David, blatantly disregarding Bathsheba’s marital vow, was the aggressor and “guilty of a greater sin” (Jn. 19:11; Lk. 12:47-8).

Many things in Western society have changed for the better, including the treatment of women, thanks in large part to the liberating influences that were set in motion by the Gospel in the 1^st century.  Now women, mindful of their intrinsic value before their Creator and under protective laws, can tell a powerful individual like David to stop and fully expect his compliance.

Of course, our world is far from being perfect and many terrible things still happen to women; nonetheless, they don’t always have to fight for opportunity; they just need to seize it.  This is especially true in God’s work because women are needed now than ever before to serve on the mission field, teach Scripture and even pastor churches (welcome to Latin America)!  Look no further than Miriam, Esther, Deborah, Aquila (Acts 18:26), Huldah (2 Chron. 34:22) and the four daughters of Philip (Acts 21:8-9) for inspiration.  Reflect on how you can be useful for God’s purpose—consider encouraging a wearied soul today with timely words from God’s word.

Prayer (of Miriam in Ex. 15):  “I will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted.   The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.  He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.  The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name.  The LORD will reign for ever and ever.”

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 3

Editor’s Note: AMI Quiet Times from May 1-10 are written by Dr. Ryun Chang, Teaching Pastor of AMI.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

1 Cor. 6:18 (NIV): Flee from sexual immorality.

2 Sam. 1:1-2 (ESV):  Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. [2] Now when evening came David arose from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king’s house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance.

Perhaps, David was as self-assured on this night as was Peter on the night when he declared, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will” (Matt. 26:33).  David had confessed something similar to God: “My steps have held to your path; my feet have not slipped” (Ps. 17:5).  Despite their bravado, both fell spectacularly in ways they had never imagined.  Peter, bearing a sword, was prepared to battle any men who dared to take his master; when they did, he used it without hesitation (Jn. 18:10).  But when a servant girl called him out as “one of them” (Lk. 22:58), Peter was so unprepared—he even denied ever knowing Christ.

Ever since David killed the gigantic Goliath with his sling shot, he had always been an excellent soldier (1 Sam. 18:7).   On this night, he should have been out with his men to defend Israel, for that’s what kings do in the spring time; and David was always prepared for it.  But instead, walking on the roof of the palace in the middle of evening, he was so unprepared to deal with what was looking squarely in the eye:  not the Ammonites, which he could handle, but the lust of the flesh, which, once it was that up-close, David couldn’t evade.

The graveyard next to the “palace” is full of bones belonging to powerful men who fell from the top because, while they knew how to win battles fought outside, they were clueless facing the ones fought inside.  David Petraeus, a retired four-star general and director of CIA, had power like none other; and yet he was powerless to overcome his lust for his official biographer.  Having resigned in disgrace, he now faces a possible criminal investigation.  Eliot Spitzer, as the state attorney general, knew how to put bad guys in jail, and later as the 54^th governor of New York wielded great power; but he lost everything because he wouldn’t  rein in his lust of the flesh.

When it comes to fighting lust, God’s counsel borders on “cowardice”: “Flee the evil desires of youth” (2 Tim. 2:22), says Paul to Timothy, a young pastor.  That is, “keep to a path far from [an adulteress], do not go near the door of her house” (Prov. 5:8).   If you’re too tempted to click to adult sites, then, consider blocking them as you would do for your children.   Don’t take this lightly because “a man who commits adultery . . . destroys himself.  Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away” (6:32).

Prayer: Lord, help me to take this matter seriously; empower me to take proper steps to reduce as many temptations as I can in my daily life.  Ultimately, may I always be mindful of the Holy Spirit so that I will follow his leading toward holiness and purity.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 1-2.

Editor’s Note: AMI Quiet Times from May 1-10 are written by Dr. Ryun Chang, Teaching Pastor of AMI.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 Sam. 11:1-6 (ESV): In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. [2] It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. [3] And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” [4] So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house. [5] And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David, “I am pregnant.” 

Jimmy Swaggart, the Billy Graham among the Pentecostals, fell from grace because of a sex scandal. Pastor D. H., a radio preacher with a national following, left his church after committing adultery. Ted Haggard, a mega-church pastor and president of National Association of Evangelicals, was ousted after a graphic scandal involving a male prostitute.

Why do we keep getting shocked by “holy” men misbehaving when we see that David, a man whom God described as “a man after my heart” (Acts 13:22), takes another man’s wife for his pleasure? He had walked around the roof of the palace before; he knew about the view from the top. While David may not have anticipated seeing a woman bathing, he wasn’t surprised to see something; he probably thought, “It’s my lucky day.”

As a T.A. at U.C.L.A., I said to the students, “Perhaps, social science got it backwards: racism, sexism, and classism may be symptoms of the human heart that’s causing them.” One student disagreed, saying, “l believe that humans are really good at heart.”

Such an optimistic view wasn’t shared by Jeremiah who said, in the 6^th century B.C., “The heart is more deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (17:9). Seven hundred years later, Apostle Paul declared, “Nothing good lives in me, that is in my sinful nature” (Rom. 7:18). No wonder “Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew . . . what was in a man” (Jn. 2:24-5).

How, then, can we be liberated from the power of sin? The regeneration by the Holy Spirit (Tit. 3:5-6) is necessary but not sufficient; praying and reading the Word is necessary but not sufficient either.

Don’t ever underestimate the power of sin! Don’t go to places where you know temptations await (e.g., rooftop); don’t hang around with people who will take you there (1 Cor. 15:33); don’t look at graphic images that will have you come for more (1 Jn. 2:16).   Have a healthy of fear of what sin can do to destroy our lives. Today, think about the changes that need to be made, for God and for you.

Prayer

Lord God, how scary it is to realize that there is no cure for the human heart that is bent on evil. Our hope is in You and the Holy Spirit from within who constantly guides us to the right place, right people, and right view. O my soul, listen to the Spirit; obey him, for it is for my own good. Help me, God. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Hebrews 13

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Cor. 15:33 (NASB): Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”

Matt. 6:22-3 (ESV): The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, [23] but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 

1 Jn. 2:16 (NIV): For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes . . .—comes not from God but from the world.

Question to Consider

1. Why is it important to make sure that we are surrounded by the right people?
2. How important is it to guard what goes through our eyes? Why is that important?
3. Re-read 2 Sam. 11:1. Was David in the right place when his sexual scandal occurred? This is to ask, where should you be at 11 AM on Sundays, or 7 PM on Thursdays or whenever your dinner time is at home.

Notes

1. Humans are social beings; peer pressure doesn’t just affect the youth; people are affected by those with whom they shared most of their time. You can pray and read the Bible all you want, but if you still run with bad company, not much will change—I guarantee it.
2. Lust enters through the eyes; once entered, it darkens the whole body— that is, it affects the mind that controls what the body does. We must take great care what our eyes are allowed to see.
3. Like in other springs, David should have been out, conducting military campaign to fortify national defense; instead, he put himself in a wrong place. On Sunday mornings, you are supposed to be at church. On a weekday, you are supposed to be at your family group or cell group. At dinner time, you should be at home and then stay there.

 Evening Reflection

Without even trying, did you find yourself fibbing (even a little), having lustful and/or hateful thoughts today?  We shouldn’t be too surprised; rather, we need to repent and ask God for a renewed effort and power to live better tomorrow by being constantly aware of God’s presence within us.   Reflect and pray.

Editor’s Note: AMI Quiet Times from April 27-30 are written by Pastor Intern David Son of Symphony Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 Samuel 9:3-7

And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.”

One of the strangest and most peculiar contests that I’ve heard of is the “Ugliest Dog Contest” held annually in Petaluma, CA. I have mixed feelings about this, as one ugly dog after another is put on display and praised for its… ugliness! What a strange event! These “ugly” dogs are treated like tiny kings! Thousands attend this competition, and at the end of the day, one champion is crowned with the title “Ugliest Dog of the Year” and is given a trophy and prize money of $1,000.

I have to think that Mephibosheth must have had many mixed feelings as well, as he was carried into the king’s presence. Not only was he crippled in his feet, Mephibosheth’s grandfather and King David did not have a great relationship: in fact, his grandfather (King Saul) had tried to murder King David on multiple occasions. And yet, for some strange reason, Mephibosheth was the recipient of royal treatment and honor in the king’s court.

David describes his gracious act as “the kindness of God” because this is the kind of God that we have. Our God remembers his covenant and shows steadfast love to generation after generation—including us! Much like Mephibosheth, we have done nothing to deserve the mercy and blessings of God, but because of who God is and what He has done for us on the cross, we can become children of the King! As we go through this day, let us be grateful to our good and merciful King. Furthermore, just as David did, let us also make an effort to be agents of the kindness of God to those around us, whether or not we feel like they deserve it.

Prayer

Lord, we praise You for who You are: “A God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…” (Exodus 34:6b-7a).  Help us to demonstrate this God-flavored love to those around us today.

Bible Reading for Today: Hebrews 11

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 John 1:16-18

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

Questions to Consider:

1. According to John, how do we know what love is?
2. What does John say about giving to a brother/sister in need?
3. Is there someone around you who is in need? How can you lay down your life for that person?

Notes:

1. John says that we know love through this: He (Jesus) laid down his life for us.
2. John says that if we see a brother/sister in need, and we refuse to share our possessions, then we haven’t truly understood the love of God!
3. Take a moment to notice the needs of those around you. Is there an action you can take to demonstrate Christ-like love this person?

 Evening Reflection

Did love cost you something today? Whether it be time, money, labor, or some other resource, were you able to show Christ-like love to anyone today? Take a moment and thank God for His sacrificial and steadfast love for us. Remembering that God laid down everything for our sake, let us ask God to empower us to love others in a similar fashion.

Editor’s Note: AMI Quiet Times from April 27-30 are written by Pastor Intern David Son of Symphony Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 Samuel 8:3-4; 6b

David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to restore his power at the river Euphrates. And David took from him 1,700 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David hamstrung all the chariot horses but left enough for 100 chariots… And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.

I love the Golden State Warriors NBA basketball team. One of the most famous Warriors’ coaches named Don Nelson (“Nellie”) changed the game of basketball. In a game where height is tantamount to the team’s success, everyone who has any knowledge about basketball knows that you have to have at least one big tall man at the “center” position if you want to be a winning team (think Shaq)! But Coach Nelson did something unheard-of—he built a team with… no center. The Warriors under Coach Nelson were a bunch of little guys, but to everyone’s surprise, “Nellie-ball” became a huge success! Don Nelson won coach-of-the-year three times and is still to this day the winningest coach in NBA history! Today, many teams have learned from Nelson’s strategy, and his legacy continues on.

Back in the Old Testament times, everyone who knew anything about warfare knew you need chariots to win battles. In fact, in those days a trustworthy measurement of the strength of an army was to count the number of chariots. But David did something unheard-of: He hamstrung nearly all of the chariot horses that he could have added to his army. What was he thinking? But David knew something that no other king or nation at the time knew:  that the battle belongs to the Lord.

What do you rely on to pull you through hard times? King David writes in Psalm 20:7: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Whatever you are facing in this season of your life, our God can be trusted!

Prayer

Lord, You are the sovereign God. Nothing happens without your knowledge, and none can stand against You. Help us to trust in You with the battles and hardships that we face each day. Let us not trust in the things of this world or even the gifts and abilities you have given us. Instead, we want to put our trust in the Lord of hosts.

Bible Reading for Today: Hebrews 10

Lunch Break Study

Read Deuteronomy 20:1-4

When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people and shall say to them, “Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.”

Questions to Consider:

1. What is the primary war strategy for God’s people?
2. When facing a powerful enemy, what were the priests instructed to do?
3. Who is our “enemy”?
4. Do you believe that God’s presence with you is enough for you to face the enemy?

Notes:

1. The primary war strategy is the presence of the Lord our God with His people.
2. The priests were instructed to declare and remind the Israelites that God was with them, and that He would give them victory.
3. On one hand, we can apply this passage to the hardships/trials/temptations we go through in life. But also, Paul writes in Ephesians 6 that our enemy is not flesh and blood but the spiritual powers of darkness (aka Satan and his forces).
4. If God is indeed who He says He is, and who we believe Him to be, then yes! Although we cannot see Him, we can trust that His presence is enough to give us victory over our enemy.

 Evening Reflection

Take a moment today and think about your faith. Hebrews 11 teaches us that faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. Faith is a crucial aspect of our walk with God. Have you been living in faith? Let us spend some time asking God to increase our faith in Him.

Editor’s Note: AMI Quiet Times from April 27-30 are written by Pastor Intern David Son of Symphony Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 Samuel 7:18-21

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God! And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it.”

There once was a church that realized the importance of humility, so it formed a committee to find the most humble person in the church. Many names were submitted and numerous candidates evaluated. Finally, the committee came to a unanimous decision. They selected a quiet, little man who always lived in the background and had never taken credit for anything he had done. They awarded him the “Most Humble” button for his faithful service. However, the next day they had to take it away from him because he pinned it on.

Humility is a bit tricky, because once you know you have it, it’s hard to keep! Has anyone ever come up and told you, “Wow, you are so humble!” How are you supposed to respond to that? Today’s passage sheds some light on what genuine humility can look like. God had just promised to make David’s kingdom an everlasting one, an amazing covenant that would likely prompt many to boast. But David comes before the Lord in an amazing confession of humility, declaring, “Who am I, O Lord God… that you have brought me thus far?” What this passage tells me is that true humility comes from reflecting on our past and recognizing that God is the one who has brought us to where we are.

Where would you be today if it weren’t for God working in your life? Today, let us spend some time sitting before the Lord and making that confession: “Who am I, O Lord God… that you have brought me thus far?

Prayer

Lord, who are we that you pour out your love, mercy, and grace ceaselessly upon us? Thank you for your faithfulness, from the time of Abraham to David, and even to the present—you have always been faithful. We cannot thank you enough.

Bible Reading for Today: Hebrews 9

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Peter 5:5-6

Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.

Questions to Consider:

1. Who is Peter writing to?
2. Why do you think Peter uses the analogy of clothing in his exhortation to be humble?
3. What is God’s stance towards “the proud”?

Notes:

1. In the context of the letter, Peter is writing to Christians in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. But in application, we can say he is writing to all Christians.
2. Clothing comes up in many places in the Bible. Here, Peter is using it to say that humility is not a status that you achieve, but like clothing, we need to put it on every day.
3. “God opposes the proud” (v. 5b). If you think about it, this is scary, because one place you definitely don’t want to be is in opposition to God. Pride is something we need to deal with seriously.

 Evening Reflection

In Deuteronomy 8, Moses repeatedly urges the Israelites to remember the Lord and not forget what He has done for them lest they become proud. Today, spend some time remembering what He has done for you—how He first encountered you, and how He saved you! Reflect on how He has sustained you through difficult times, blessed you with every good thing, and that He is still faithful to you.