Editor’s Note: Today’s AMI Quiet Time is written by Shan Gian of Symphony Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Luke 24:13-27

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

The ending for some movies is predictable, such as Titanic, but not movies like Shawshank Redemption and The Usual Suspects that were produced in the 1990s.  (Sorry, I guess I’m not that young.)  One reason many moviegoers enjoyed them was not only an incredible plot twist, but the surprise ending that brought everything together—everything finally made sense.

Moving onto a much more serious venue, I would imagine that Cleopas and his friend had a similar experience on the road to Emmaus.  These two disciples of Jesus were walking along the road, confused about what had transpired over the weekend; this was not the ending that they had anticipated.   Instead of redeeming Israel, they had seen Jesus, whom they thought was the Messiah, beaten and finally crucified.

Why the miscalculation?  Certainly, God had been telling and weaving an intricate story of redemption.  It went from the Creation to the Fall, to Abraham and the time of the patriarchs, and the Exodus to the Exile.  All throughout Israel’s history, there were prophecies of the Messiah who was to come.  But instead of the Prince of Peace, the Israelites, because they had long suffered at the hands of gentile rulers (such as Grecians and Romans) were looking for a triumphant, militant Jesus.

Once Jesus came, He said very plainly how He had to suffer first, but it didn’t make sense to the Jews who yearned for a political liberator, not a suffering one!

Here, still in disguise, Jesus shows these two disciples how their misunderstanding of the Scripture led to a false expectation.   He starts with “Moses and all the Prophets” and interprets “all the Scriptures” to them.  And suddenly, Cleopas and his friend started to understand the Scriptures, Jesus’ ministry, and the events on Good Friday—all of which pointed to the death and resurrection of the Jesus “that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory.” This surprise ending gave them great hope and joy!

As believers today, we have been completely changed and transformed because we know how the story ended.  Knowing the ending changes everything.  We can read the stories and prophecies of the Old Testament and see how it pointed to the Messiah.  We can see the amazing story of God’s grace and the redemption of His people, including us.  But most of all, we can look at our own lives and see that God has woven a story of grace and redemption within us, and because of what Jesus did for us, we know that the ending to our own stories leads to an eternity with our Lord.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 38-39

Editor’s Note: Today’s AMI Quiet Time is co-written by Doug Tritton and Shan Gian of SC.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Isaiah 53

Who has believed what he has heard from us?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people?
9 And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Why do we call today “Good Friday?” What we read here in Isaiah 53 does not sound “good” at all. This servant of God, despised, rejected, full of sorrow and grief, stricken, smitten, afflicted, pierced, crushed, oppressed, cut off, is like a lamb that is led to the slaughter. How can this be good? This sounds brutal and harsh. We wouldn’t wish this pain and death upon anyone, much less an innocent man, undeserving of any of it. But we celebrate this day where an innocent man was horrifically beaten, unjustly tried and convicted, rejected by his friends and executed in the more tortuous of ways. And still, we call this day “good.” How can this be?

We call this day Good Friday because we remember our loving Savior showing us the full extent of His amazing love for us: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).   We were the ones who were guilty. We were deserving of this punishment and shame. We should have been lambs led to slaughter. This day is so good because Jesus took the punishment of our guilt upon Himself, and by His sacrifice we were set free. Today is Good Friday because this is Good News, the best news there could ever be – Jesus died on a cross for us so that we could be set free from our sins, given new life, given eternal life with our loving King.

Prayer

Thank you, Jesus, for being so good to us. Today we remember Your love shown to us on that cross. We were so undeserving and so unworthy, but still you loved us and laid down your life for us. There is nothing we can do or say to repay you. All I can do is say, “Thank you, Jesus!” In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 37

Lunch Break Study

Romans 5:6-11

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

1. How does Romans describe our spiritual states before Jesus?
2. What do we have as a result of Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross?
3. Why did Jesus Christ die for us?

Notes

1. We are contrasted with good or righteous people. Paul describes us as weak, ungodly sinners, and enemies of God. We are people who are undeserving of someone dying for us.
2. We are justified by His blood. We were enemies before, but now we are reconciled with Him.
3. Very simply, Jesus died for us because of His love for us.

 Evening Reflection

Take some time to remember what Jesus has done for you on this Easter Weekend, especially on this Good Friday. What does the cross of Jesus mean to you? How has it changed your life? Take some time tonight to pray and thank Jesus for His sacrifice for you.

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

Devotional Thoughts for Today

1 Samuel 20:30-32

Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness? 31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.” 32 Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” 

The throne of Israel was Jonathan’s birthright—this was supposed to be his kingdom.  In the eyes of the world, he had every right to take this throne.  Knowing full well that his father was right, that as long as David lived on earth neither Jonathan nor his kingdom would be established, he defends David.  Essentially, Jonathan abdicated his throne to David.

But why would he do this?  What could lead someone to give up all of the fortune, prestige and power that is due them?  Hardly any of us would refuse something we rightly deserve.  If we were there, we all would have thought Jonathan was crazy.  He was the prince of Israel, the future king!  And kings don’t just step aside and let others take over their kingdom—no king would just leave his own throne like this.

What led Jonathan do to this?  For him, I think it was really simple: he knew who the real king was.  He saw God’s anointing on David, as well as his character and heart for God, and Jonathan just stepped aside and gave up his rightful throne.  He put aside all of his rights, all of his abilities, all of his own authority and power.  And he gave all of that up to the true king of Israel.

A few thousand years later, a son of David would do something similar.  He had all authority and power, deserving of glory and praise; He was the true King.  And yet, this King put aside all of that, He emptied and humbled Himself to be a servant, to the point of death on a cross.

Do you know who the real King is in your life?  If so, then let Him lead you in every aspect of your life—including relationships, finances and entertainment.  In the long run, you will be more content and satisfied with Christ leading you than you leading yourself.  Think.  Reflect.  Pray.

Prayer

Jesus you are my King.  I pray that as I remember You through this Passion Week, I will see how worthy You are of my whole life. I set aside all that I am and declare that you reign in my life.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 36

Lunch Break Study

Read John 13:1-17: Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 

Questions to Consider

1. What was so incredible about Jesus washing his disciples’ feet?
2. Why does Jesus do this for them?
3. What does the humility of Jesus mean for you?

Notes

1. Even if we only look at Jesus’ human nature, washing the feet of his disciples was astounding, since to his disciples, Jesus was their Master and Rabbi. Though He was in the position of power and authority, yet he was the one who stripped down, bent down and washed their dirty, smelly feet as an act of service, something that these disciples altogether refused to do for one another because of their pride.  When we consider Jesus’ God nature, it’s more unfathomable: He knew that He was about to take the cross and that he was washing the feet of men who would flee from him, deny him and even betray him.
2. Jesus washes their feet to set an example of what it means to be a servant and how they should let go of their pride to serve one another. Not too long after this account, Jesus would be nailed to the cross, giving all of us the ultimate example of humility and service to others.
3. Personal application question.

 Evening Reflection

Reflect again upon Jesus, our humble King who washed the feet of His disciples; and out of love for us He humbled Himself to die on a cross for our sins.  How has this humility of Jesus changed your life?  How is your life a reflection of Jesus’ humble sacrifice for us?

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

Devotional Thoughts for Today

1 Samuel 18:6-9

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prayer

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

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 35

Lunch Break Study

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

Questions to Consider

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

Notes

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

 Evening Reflection

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

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

Devotional Thoughts for Today

1 Samuel 17:41-47

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

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

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

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

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

Prayer

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

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 34

Lunch Break Study

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

Questions to Consider

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

Notes

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

 Evening Reflection

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

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

Devotional Thoughts for Today

1 Samuel 16:6-12

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

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

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

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

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

Prayer

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

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 33

Lunch Break Study

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

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

Questions to Consider

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

Notes

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

 Evening Reflection

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

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

Devotional Thoughts for Today

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

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

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

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

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 32

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

Devotional Thoughts for Today

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

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

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

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

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

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 30-31

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

Devotional Thoughts for Today

1 Samuel 31:8-13: 

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

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

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

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

Prayer

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

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 29

Lunch Break Study

Read Galatians 6:7-10.

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

Questions to Consider

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

Notes:

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

 Evening Reflection

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

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

Devotional Thoughts for Today

1 Samuel 31:1-7 

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

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

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

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

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

Prayer

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

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 28

Lunch Break Study

Read James 4:13-17.

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

Questions to Consider

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

Notes:

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

 Evening Reflection

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