February 12, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Andrew Kim, was originally posted on April 18, 2018. Andrew is presently pastoring Alive Church in Montreal.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Can We Move Mountains?”

Read Mark 11:20-25

“As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have receivedit, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Recently, I had dinner with a missionary who I’ve known for a very long time. And one of my favorite things about meeting with him has always been the stories he would share about how God has been moving in his ministry. Although each story is different, the underlying thread is the faith that the missionary has in God to do the impossible—whether it’s reaching out to someone who seems hopelessly lost or the huge financial deficit that needs to be resolved by a certain deadline. Each challenge isn’t met with anxiety, fear or trying to work harder to overcome the roadblocks; instead, he chooses to go to God and ask for mountains to be moved.

In our passage for today, Jesus challenges us to do the same. Here we find an interesting story about a fig tree that’s withered as a result of Jesus cursing it; and then, He begins to talk about prayer and faith. What’s the connection? The fig tree represents the temple that Jesus had just cleansed in the previous passage. Just like the fig tree, the temple was useless because it bore no fruit— it was busy with religious activities but did not further the mission of God. For Jewish readers, this was a shocking statement since the temple was the focal point of their religion. Jews who were not living in Jerusalem would face east towards the temple when praying, because it was where the presence of God resided.

However, Jesus in this story is suggesting that the temple no longer functions in the same role. With His coming, the temple has dissolved, and as a result, prayer and faith must be directed towards Him. For this reason, the disciples should not lose heart over the failures of Israel exemplified by the temple; instead, they should have faith in God (v. 22) and pray for the impossible. Their movement is not dependent on an institution but on the God who loves them, the One who would ultimately die for them.

Jesus invites His disciples to pray impossible prayers—like having mountains taken up and thrown into the sea—as they continue in their mission to usher in the kingdom of God. I wonder how many of us approach God in our prayers with that type of faith and audacity. As we try to live for God as believers, do we have faith as we pray? Do we easily get discouraged by the difficulties of life, or do we boldly approach God in prayer knowing that He can pull us through? As followers of Jesus, let us be people of faith. Let’s spend some time in prayer, asking God to move the mountains in our lives for the sake of His glory!

Prayer: Father, thank You that You are a great God who can do the impossible. I ask that You grant me the type of faith that asks with certainty for mountains to be moved in Your name. Help me to trust in Your power and not in my own strength. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 49

Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Questions to Consider

What are we called to make known to God?
What is the result engaging God in prayer and supplication?
How do you deal with things that make you anxious in life?

Notes

We are called to make known to God about everything. Oftentimes we simply engage God with only the bigger things of life; however, Paul commands us to bring everything before God.
We are given the peace of God. This does not always mean we will understand the struggles and difficulties of our lives, but nonetheless, God will grant us a peace that is beyond our own understanding.
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Our busy lives are often full of worry and anxiety. Instead of trying to figure things out on our own, take some time to name them and surrender them before God. Tell Him about all the “mountains” in your life that need to be moved.

February 11, Tuesday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on April 24, 2018, is provided by Myra Huang. Myra, a graduate of Juilliard School (BA) and The Manhattan School of Music (M.A.), lives in NYC with her husband Ed Huang and two lovely daughters. She had been a member of The Remnant Church since its inception in 1995.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“I Probably Won’t Win”

James 1:17-8 (NLT)

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.”

Last November, I found out that my last album with my colleague Nick was nominated for a Grammy Award in the “Best Classical Vocal Solo” category. I am a classical pianist, and I concertize and record albums with opera singers.

When I was young, I grew up winning every competition I ever entered and being the star pianist in my hometown. However, around the time of college, for the first time, I wasn’t winning everything and doors were closing on me. I thought to myself, Ah, now that I’m growing as a Christian, God must want to humble me, so He doesn’t want me to win anymore. So when this Grammy nomination presented itself, I thought, How lovely! But God probably doesn’t want me to become arrogant, so we probably won’t win.

I spent a few weeks losing sleep because of my anxiety about losing—I knew it was going to hurt. But then one day, a couple weeks before the actual Grammys Award Ceremony, God met me during worship. He simply said, “You are not a loser.” Those words, coming directly from the Lord of my life, exposed that I had almost made a career of learning to be humbled by God. I thought He would never entrust winning to me again because it was my lot in my life to be humbled. But with the words “You are not a loser,” I understood in an instant with beautiful clarity that behind God’s sovereign directing of my life was His deep, vast, all-encompassing love.

Yes, He wanted to work in me so that I would not base my identity on winning or success … because He LOVED me. He loved me so much that He wanted to give me a security not based on such fleeting things. God’s timing was so loving to heal me right before the Grammys, so that I could actually enjoy the moment rather than fearing losing. Also for the first time, I was able to begin imagining all the good things that the Lord had in store for me, rather than just the slice of plain bread I would be rationed every day to survive. I was able to grasp how lavish was the love my God had for me, and hope began to flood my thoughts as I thought about the future. I was transformed from a servant who was allowed to be in God’s family, to a prized daughter who was dressed with her Father’s favor.

So, remember that you are a winner in God’s eyes, apart from anything you do or fail to do, and live a stress and anxiety free day today.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for Your death and resurrection. The hope of eternal life with You gives meaning to my existence, apart from anything I do or fail to do, and brings joy to the things that I get to do here on earth. Help me to live in light of the joy of eternal life today. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 48

Lunch Break Study

(Pastor Ryun)

Read Luke 19:1-6 (NIV): “Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Questions to Consider

Given the category of being a winner or a loser, where would the Israelites place Zacchaeus and why?
Where would Jesus place Zacchaeus in this category? Winner or loser? Why do you think so?
Are you a winner or a loser in God’s eyes? Justify your choice.

Notes

The Israelites considered Zacchaeus a profound loser for using performance enhancing drugs (something illegal) to get ahead in his career (“chief tax collector”): he betrayed his people by working for the Romans, and he cheated and lied to collect more than what was required to pocket the excess.
Jesus would consider Zacchaeus a profound winner, because he recognized that no title or money could satisfy his sense of inadequacy and emptiness, so he sought Jesus—even though he must have looked like a fool climbing a tree to see Jesus. Anyone who seeks Jesus and His approval above all else is a winner.
Personal response. Quiet your soul and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart (Rom. 8:16).

Evening Reflection

This morning, the issue was how God ministers to us personally and intimately. Without being ministered that way, we cannot hear anything from the Lord. God may very well be saying, “You are not a loser,” but what good is it if we aren’t hearing it. So try this before going to sleep tonight and allow yourself to hear God’s voice through the Spirt in your heart: “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him” (Ps 37:7a).

February 10, Monday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on February 25, 2018, is provided by Joshua Chzen. Joshua has been leading worship at Kairos Christian Church in San Diego, California, for many years.

Devotional Thought for Today

“A Deeper Understanding”

Genesis 49:22-25 (NIV)

“Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall.
23 With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. 24 But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, 25 because of your father’s God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the skies above, blessings of the deep springs below, blessings of the breast and womb.

There’s an old Indian fable about a group of blind men who encounter an elephant in their travels. Since the animal is unfamiliar to them, they begin to feel around to try to understand what they face. As each of them touches a different part, every one of the men reaches a different conclusion about the creature in their path. One man touches the elephant’s ear and decides that it must be a large fan. Another wraps his arms around its foot and thinks he’s embracing a tree. The rest of them think they’ve found a spear (its tusk), a snake (its trunk), and a wall (its side). Of course, none of them are correct. This story is commonly used to illustrate issues of perspective in relation to truth; with only a limited perspective to aid their understanding, none of the men really know the truth of what they’ve encountered. (Of course, someone saw the whole thing; otherwise there is no story to tell—sorry relativism.)

We see another illustration of this in Jacob’s relationship with God. Previously, we see him referring to God as “the God of Abraham” or “the God of Isaac” (Gen. 31:53; 32:9). Many years later as he nears death, Jacob gathers his sons and blesses them before he departs. In his blessing for Joseph, we see how much he has grown in his understanding of God. He uses five different names for God – Mighty One of Jacob, Shepherd, Rock of Israel, your father’s God, and Almighty – which reflect his deeper knowledge and experience of the one he worships. In fact, he doesn’t even reference his forefathers Isaac or Abraham; instead, he mentions himself three times as he blesses Joseph. This is not indicative of self-centeredness or vanity, but rather of ownership of his own relationship with the Lord. Jacob understands who God is.

Our understanding of God often follows the same pattern. It can be easy for us to focus only on specific aspects of God and His relationship to us, and in fact it’s probably natural for us to do so. To some, God is first and foremost a father, and loves us as His children. To others, God is the most high and exalted ruler of the universe, and we are His servants. God is the one who comforts and provides; He’s the one who conquers and judges. To base all of our understanding on any single one of these is to give ourselves an incomplete picture of who God is. God is not one of these things, He’s all of them and more. If we desire to wholly know the one who we worship, we need to seek and ask Him to help get us there.

Prayer: Lord, I want to know you more. Through your Word and your Spirit, speak the truth of who you are into my heart. Help me never to stop going deeper in my relationship with You. In Your name, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 47

Lunch Break Study

Read Ephesians 1:15-19 (NIV): For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Questions to Consider

What kind of attitude does Paul have in his prayers for the Ephesians?
What does Paul pray for the Ephesians to receive? Why?
How are we supposed to deepen our knowledge and understanding of God?

Notes

Paul intercedes for the Ephesians with a heart of thanksgiving, understanding that every spiritual blessing has been granted from God through Christ, and the Ephesians now get to share in this blessing through their faith in Him. Paul’s gratitude is apparent and unceasing in his prayers for them.
Paul prays for the Ephesians to receive the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, in order that they would know God better and that the eyes of their heart would be enlightened. He goes on to ask that they would know God’s hope and glorious inheritance, as well as his incomparably great power. The apostle makes it clear that this sort of wisdom and revelation comes from God.
If we want to know God more deeply and grow in our understanding of Him, we need to ask for the same wisdom and revelation that comes not from ourselves, but from God alone. This doesn’t mean we passively wait for Him to reveal himself; especially as He grows us in wisdom, this revelation can come through reading and meditating on his Word, crying out in prayer and worship, and living life in a community of discipleship.

Evening Reflection

Think about an attribute of God that you struggle to understand. It’s easy for us to gloss over things we don’t particularly like or relate to, but spend some time reconciling your idea of God with who the Bible tells us He is. Continue to pray for His wisdom and revelation, as well as a heart of humility in trying to comprehend a God who is ultimately above our comprehension.

February 9, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on February 25, 2018, is provided by Pastor David Kwon who leads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. David is a graduate of Drexel University (B.S.) and Columbia International University (M.Div.).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The Promise Keeper”

Genesis 48:18-22

And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitudeof nations.” 20 So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, ‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.’ Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover, I have given to you rather than to your brothers one mountain slopethat I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.”

One of the many lessons I try to teach my children is to always be someone who keeps their promises. A few weeks ago, one of my daughters promised me that she would clean her room by a certain day, but when the day had arrived, her room was still not clean. Even though I was disappointed by her lack of responsibility, it was a teaching moment for me; so I explained to her that as God’s children, we are called to keep our promises.

As we look at the end of Genesis 48, we see that God is a Promise Keeper. True to His word for His name’s sake, He keeps His covenants from generation to generation. Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, share in Jacob’s blessing, but the younger Ephraim gets a larger portion of favor. Joseph objects when this happens because his father defies the normal custom, which typically grants a greater blessing to the older son. Later in biblical history, in Egypt and at the exodus, Ephraim and Manasseh were great tribes. All of these details point back to the covenant God had made with Abraham when He promised that He would make of him a great nation filled with prosperity (Genesis 12:2). God has always kept His promises throughout history and generations.

Here are a few promises in Scripture about who God is and who we are:

Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6)
The same yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13:8)
Sure Foundation (Isa 28:16)
He is for us (Rom 8:31)
Our strength (Phil 4:13)
We are forgiven (Col 1:14)
We are loved (John 3:16)

What does it mean that God is a promise keeper? One practical application is that He is trustworthy. We can surrender our lives to Him. Spend time today meditating on the promises of God in Christ Jesus. Pray that you would continually be surrendered to His will and kingdom purposes.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that you are the ultimate Promise Keeper. Help me to trust in all my circumstances. May I be surrendered to Your will and calling for my life today. Amen!

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 46

February 8, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on February 17, 2018, is provided by Pastor Shan Gian. Shan, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), is the Lead Pastor of Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Dying Well”

Genesis 46:28-30

He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. 29 Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. 30 Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.”

Death is something that few like to think about or talk about, but we all know that death is inevitable and unavoidable. We would rather talk about living a good life, but sooner or later, we have to face our mortality. Though it may seem morbid and depressing, maybe we would be much better off, if— instead of thinking about having a good time and avoiding death—we thought about what it means to die well.

When we look at Jacob in this latter part of Genesis, he keeps referencing to his own death. At the end of Genesis 45, Jacob is excited to find out that his son Joseph is still alive, and so he says, “I will go and see him before I die.” And then in Genesis 46:30, Jacob says, “Now let me die.” Unlike us, Jacob had no fear of talking about his own death. Why was Jacob so fixated on dying? It was because he was very old at this point and he was staring at his mortality in the face. But Jacob doesn’t talk about death because he just wanted to get it over with—Jacob was looking forward to dying well.

Jacob had lived a tumultuous life—a life full of scheming, conflict, and struggle. And at this point in Genesis, he had lived over a decade, thinking that his beloved son Joseph was dead. Now as he was advanced in age, he saw that he had this opportunity to be reconciled to his son and be with all of his family. And now he was “ready to die,” because he could now die with peace. His family relationships were reconciled, he knew his whole family was taken care of, and he knew that his God was walking with him and his people.

We should all consider what it means to die well and to die with peace. At the end of your days on this earth, what do you want your relationships to be like? When it’s your time, what kind of legacy do you want to leave? What do you want your walk with God to be like? It is uncomfortable to talk about death, but perhaps if we think about dying well, it can lead to living well and to walk humbly with our God. Let us pray that whenever our time comes, we can die with peace, knowing that we have fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith!

Prayer: Jesus, I pray that for my life I will be able to say, “to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Help me to walk humbly with You and to live a life worthy of Your gospel. Amen

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 44-45

February 7, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Christine Li, was first posted on February 2, 2018. Christine, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“No More ‘Tit-for-tat’”

Genesis 42:22

Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.”

As a culture, we are much enamored with the concept of “reaping what you sow.” It is all over our newspapers and our entertainment—we love when the hardworking underdog ends up winning against the odds, or when criminals finally get caught and must pay for their crimes. We tell workers that they have to “put in their time” to earn respect and credibility, and students will surely remember from the last semester whether their diligence (or lack of) paid off. What we are saying is this: what you put in, is what you get out.

While reaping what we sow as it plays out in the mind of the general public is not exactly described by the Word, we know that there are consequences (good and bad), for all the things we do. Here, a similar mindset captures Reuben’s thoughts. Thirteen years later, Joseph’s blood continues to weigh on the conscience of the brothers; Reuben believes that their sin will finally catch up with them, and now they will have to pay dearly.

But, the story of Joseph’s brothers provides a twist to this idea—we may often reap what we sow, but because God rules over the earth and He loves us, we always reap in grace many more times than we have sown. Believers know that God’s grace provides far better outcomes than we can earn. Whatever was done in the past will be covered over by God’s grace. And though we will have new privilege to partner in God’s work, it is He who carries out all plans and displays incredible amounts of mercy and love.

Today, let us be generous in sowing mercy, forgiveness, and love wherever we go. We should take every opportunity to express a faithful and godly lifestyle. However, though we know we will fall short, we can also give thanks in advance that our God’s hand rests upon every circumstance. Let us face every decision and consequence with a peaceful assurance that He will continuously send streams of mercy into our lives.

Prayer: Lord, we praise You for being in charge over this earth! Thank You that we can live lives that are covered by Your grace. Thank You for restoring and redeeming every work of our hands. Give us hearts that desire to sow things in accordance with Your character and will. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genessi 43

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 20:1-16: “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius[a] a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ 5 So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ 8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ 9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, 12 saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last.”

Questions to Consider

What was promised to each one of the workers? Why is this significant?
What do the first workers’ reactions reveal about what they thought their reward should be?
Let’s take time to look at ourselves and determine how well we reconcile our work and God’s reward for ourselves. Are we more inclined to be overwhelmed by God’s generosity, or do we look at what others receive and compare with jealousy?

Notes

The hired workers at the beginning of the day were promised a denarius—about a day’s worth of wages. This may seem to be a proper wage for their labor. The men hired at the third, sixth, ninth, and eleventh hours were told that they would be paid ”whatever is right.”
The workers were upset with their wages. Although they had agreed to work for a denarius, when they saw others receiving the same benefit, they felt that their additional labor and harsh labors entitled them to additional benefits from the master of the house.
This parable is meant to show how, even when God bestows grace in our lives, we may be tempted to desire earning ”more” than the others around us. We may try to associate the grace we receive with the ”work” that we have done. We will be tempted to forget that our committment is solely between us and the Master; whatever He determines for us is fair and generous. Let us understand how lavish His grace is for us, and there will not be a need to look elsewhere.

Evening Reflection

We will end the week reflecting on God’s grace in our lives. Let’s take time to note how He has provided for us, as well as redeem and restore us. This thankfulness will allow us to see how abundant and generous His grace is over us.

February 6, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional Spiritual, first posted on March 29, 2018, is provided by Hee Jung Lee. Hee Jung, a graduate of Biblical Theological Seminary, serves at Catalyst Agape Church (New Jersey) along with her husband Pastor Sam Lee.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Compassion”

Mark 6:34-36

And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat. But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.”

There is a Chinese video I ran across several years ago that profoundly remained with me. Perhaps you have seen it. It is about a mother who lives remotely in the mountains, many miles away from her daughter. Upon finding out that her grown and married child was tired, the aged mother, who is ill with cataracts, rummages into the mountains to pick some vegetable so that she can make her daughter some soup. She then begins her long journey to visit her child in the city by buying a bus ticket with the little money she has. She faces many challenges on the way due to her poor eyesight and her lack of familiarity with the city. Fortunately, despite all the obstacles, the mother manages to arrive at the daughter’s apartment; and finally, fumbles her way to making the soup she had set her heart to make.

It is a moving story. Compassion has this compelling nature, which moves a person—like this mother—to action. This action is love. As a spiritual leader once said, “Love looks like something”; it is not a feeling in the air, but love is an act. The act may be giving, forgiving, appreciating, listening, sacrificing, apologizing, or anything that looks to the benefit of another. We see Jesus setting this example. In Mark 6:34, we are told that as He looked upon the multitude of people, He had compassion on them “so He began to teach them many things” (v.34);and when He realized that they may be hungry, He instructed the disciples to feed the crowd (v.37); and they fed thousands on the spot. Jesus was all present with the people around Him, and His spiritual eyes were able to perceive their needs; his heart was vested in them. In fact, He is all present with us. He perceived our needs to the point of shedding blood on the cross. This is compassion. This is love. As a follower of Jesus, let us imitate His example and allow compassion to compel us to perceive and act on the needs of others around us today. Let us allow our hearts to be vested in another. This is compassion. This is love.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you that You not only felt compassion for me, but this compassion compelled you to action. This act of love changed my life and as I respond this, this very likeness of Your nature in me, I too will be used to change lives. Help me to be all present with the people around me so I can perceive the needs that You want to meet in their lives. Thank You for this privileged partnership! Amen.

Lunch Break Study

Read1 John 3:18: “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

Questions to consider

1.What are some of your experiences where compassion made a difference in your life?

2. What may love look like in some challenging relationships that you have in your life?

3. Take time to reflect on how Christ’s compassion & act of love on the cross has made a difference in your life. Give thanks.

Notes

1. The Lord often uses different people along our walk of life to express His heart to us. It is beneficial to our hearts to reflect on these moments so that we do not lose sight of God’s goodness that has been with us through life.

2. There is always one overriding solution to every relational problem… love. Love supersedes faith and hope because, in essence, it is the manifestation of both of those. God reduces us of ourselves in order that He may increase us in love. This is who He is (1 John 4:8) and this is the greatest call.

3. Personal response.

Bible Reading for today: Genesis 42

Evening Reflection

How were you able to express the compassion of Christ by acts of love today?

February 5, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted March 7, 2018, is provided by Pastor Mark Chun. Mark is now serving as a staff at Radiance Christian Church in S.F.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Are You a Disciple of Jesus?”

Mark 1:16-20 (ESV)

Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus Christ? The topic of discipleship is something that I’ve thought about since my time in seminary. I vividly remember our New Testament professor asking the class, “How many of you consider yourself to be Christian?” I wasn’t sure if this was a trick question, but it certainly was the easiest question we’ve been asked in seminary; so all of us raised our hands confidently. But after our response, the professor asked the hardest question in my years of theological training: “How many of you consider yourself to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ?” I remember looking around the room, and at first no one raised their hand, and then about five of us in a class of twenty reluctantly put our hands up. Now you need to realize that this was a class of third year seminary students, many of whom had decided to make ministry a full-time career. Yet we were unsure and confused about what discipleship to Christ meant. And then my professor taught me a lesson that I will never forgot and one that I hope you will never forget. In the New Testament, there is no distinction between being a

Christian and being a disciple of Christ—they are one and the same.

When we read the Great Commission in the book of Matthew, Jesus calls his first disciples to make more disciples by going out to the nations. But it’s in the book of Acts where we find that the word “Christian” was first used to identify the disciples of Jesus, which simply means those who belong to Christ or who claim to be His followers. For those of us who consider ourselves to be a Christian—and really take that calling seriously—we are committed to a lifetime of discipleship. But what does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? Does it mean going to church every Sunday, belonging to a Christian fellowship, and praying and reading our Bible daily? I believe being a Christian means so much more than that. If I were to summarize what it means to be a disciple in two words, it would be “FOLLOW ME.”

Christianity at its core simply means to follow Christ—no matter where, no matter what, and no matter the cost. And when we look at the Scriptures, the best example of someone who followed after Christ in this manner was one of his first disciples—Simon Peter. I love the example of Peter because it personally gives all believers hope that they can follow after Jesus. Peter’s relationship with Jesus began with a decisive action, as he left his nets and his father’s business in order to become a follower. However, Peter’s path to becoming a disciple was not without difficulty.

As you study the Gospels, you realize that Peter was uneducated, prideful, and cowardly, making one mistake after another; yet Jesus never gave up on him. And ultimately, he learned how to follow his Savior. Like Peter, Jesus calls us to follow Him, and we can be encouraged that He makes ordinary fishermen and transforms them into extraordinary disciples.

Prayer: Lord, help us to heed Your call to follow after You. We are grateful that You take ordinary people like us and call us to live extraordinary lives for You. We realize that this is not easy and that our strength will fail us, but teach us how to depend upon You and to count the cost of discipleship. Give us the courage to pick up our cross, deny ourselves, and follow where You lead us. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 41

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 14: 25-33 (ESV): Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Questions to Consider

Why does Jesus tell the crowds to hate our families and our own lives in order to become His disciples?
What is the cross that we were meant to bear?
What is the cost of discipleship?

Notes

Jesus is teaching us that our old allegiances to family and personal identity must be replaced with a new commitment to Him and a newfound identity as His disciple. The large crowds that were following Jesus didn’t all have a fundamental change in the priority of their lives; their loyalties were still divided. Jesus makes it very clear that His true disciples must place Him as the highest priority in their lives. He is not suggesting that we abhor our parents or ourselves but simply to reprioritize our relationships so that He comes before anything else.
Although all of us will have different crosses to bear, at the bottom line, the cross does refer to some degree of suffering and rejection by the world. There is no way to follow Christ completely without experiencing some level of sacrifice. Following Jesus will cost you something and although this loss may be rewarded with something far better later, there is still an initial investment that will have to be made.
Jesus tells us that we have to be prepared to renounce everything that we have in order to follow Him. A disciple of Christ cannot hold onto anything too tightly or attempt to control his own destiny. The cost of discipleship may be a loss of a job, a relationship, wealth, or even your own safety and security. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the personal sacrifice necessary to follow Jesus and prepare accordingly.

Evening Reflection

Did you sense Jesus guiding you by the Holy Spirit recently? Did you follow or resist? Is there anything holding you back from wholeheartedly obeying God? Take a few moments to renounce the things that are competing for your allegiance, and consider how you can be a more effective disciple.

February 4, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Charles Choe who leads Tapestry Church in Los Angeles, was first posted on February 5, 2018. Charles is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

Mark 3:1-21

“And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.” (Mark 3:14)

In my youth I was totally confused. I was a tall skinny kid, a wanna be athlete, trying so hard to fit in with the cool kids, even going through a phase of wearing Cavarccis to look like MC Hammer for a while, and then finally, feeling somewhat comfortable with the a more preppy look. In other words, I was totally insecure about what others thought of me and without much sense of my place in the world. Then I met Christ, and there is where I found myself. I realized in Him I was first and foremost a child, the beloved son, of the King.

In ancient times, names were extremely important, and naming was an act of great importance and power; names conveyed an essence. So if you went through a great change in life, you almost always had a change of name. Abram becomes Abraham, Jacob becomes Israel, Saul becomes Paul. And some had multiple names, because it showed how multi-faceted they can be. And almost everyone had a personal name, a true name, the way you thought of yourself, and you wouldn’t necessary share it everyone, only with the ones you had special connection with, because to some degree, it gave that person some power over you. Like when Moses wanted to know God’s name, God says, “I am who I am.” Scholars believe this is Moses trying to get some leverage over God; to know one’s name gave you special access and power.

You might say today, “Yes, but that was back then, they were superstitious; today, names don’t mean anything.” Really? So why do we spend millions of dollars and hire consultants and say, “Please name this company, name this product.” It’s for the same reason why Martha Kostyra became Martha Stewart, or why Reginald Kenneth Dwight chose Elton John as his new name, or why did Marion Michael Morrison become John Wayne? Because you can’t have a cowboy named Marion, can you?

In our passage today, Jesus names the twelve to be apostles. The world appointed, poiema, is used, which is the word used for an artist creating a work of art. In other words, he didn’t look at the twelve and say, “These guys have what it takes”and so he named them apostles. No, he picked them, to do His work in them. This is what Paul meant in Ephesians 2:10, when he said, “You are God’s “workmanship” (poiema), created to do good works. Like an artist crafting a work of art, a poem, painting, or sculpture, God is a Master Artist over our lives.

Do you see then, everything that you are and that has happened to you—your gender, your nationality or your parents, or even your troubles—all of these things are just brushes or hammer and chisel, something the Great Artist has been using and will use to make you into a work of art. Think about that. A work of art, of course, is valuable and beautiful, but even more, it’s an expression of the inner vision of the artist. That’s you—you’ve been made for some good works he’s prepared beforehand, and that inner vision of God has for you, that’s your true identity and calling.

The beauty of the Gospel is that we have a name, that God knows us by name. We have been plucked out of the depths of hell and been given a new name. Even more than that, what gives you unique purpose, what gives you a sense of distinct value, is when you see yourself able to live out your calling.

Prayer: God, teach me to be generous as You were to me. Increase my capacity to give both of money and time to those who are in need. Give me a greater understanding of the Gospel, what You did on the cross on my behalf, so that giving to those who are hurting becomes an increasingly joyful action. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 40

Lunch Break Study

Read Ephesians 2:1-10: “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Questions to Consider

1. What is at work in the world and in the sons of disobedience?

2. How does God counter the work of the evil one in the world and in our hearts?

3. How have you seen the cosmic picture of what God is doing in your life in light of verse 10?

Notes

1. Satan, who is referred to as “the prince of the power the air” in verse 2.

2. He works through the love of his Son, showing us mercy even while we were in sin.

3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Before you go sleep tonight, mull on this:

“We know only too well that what we are doing is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. But if the drop were not there, the ocean would be missing something.” -Mother Teresa

In the Lord’s eyes, you are that important. Does that do anything for you? It should!

February 3, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Doug Tritton, was first posted on February 5, 2018. A graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), Doug is the Lead Pastor of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Famine was Severe”

Genesis 43:1-2

Now the famine was severe in the land. 2 And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.”

Have you ever felt real hunger? I do not mean 5 PM-coming-from-work hunger or Super-Bowl-is-on-and-I-need-pizza-and-wings hunger—I mean real, painful hunger. Most of us likely have grown up in areas or families where we could eat without too much worry. Maybe there were times of struggle but we never felt lasting, heavy hunger. I imagine this feeling can be quite paralyzing.

In our narrative in Genesis, however, we read that “the famine was severe in the land”—meaning that the scenario for Jacob and his sons is life or death, and they need bread, right away. They were in the throes of lasting, heavy hunger. So, imagine yourself in the shoes of Jacob’s sons. You are terribly afraid of Egypt after your first visit there, but you know you need to go back in order to get food. You know that you need to bring Benjamin with you, yet Jacob will likely not allow that. Between the competing demands and the severe hunger, you can probably imagine that this situation would be quite paralyzing for Jacob’s sons.

Have you ever felt paralyzed because of a decision that needed to be made, a decision that may have significant consequences for yourself and those around you? Maybe we have not had life or death scenarios such as what we are reading, but, still, many of us likely have experienced that feeling of being paralyzed while trying to make a decision in the middle of our own “famines,” whether these “famines” were pressures from family or from a boss, low finances, or something else. However, despite the pressure we may feel, the reality is that God is in control. In Genesis, we know that God was in control of the situation and, if you know the end of the story, Joseph recognizes that God had a plan throughout all of Joseph’s life. God was going to turn for good what his brothers meant for evil.

Today, perhaps we are feeling that paralyzing fear of the unknown. Perhaps we are wondering how we can possibly make a certain decision, especially given the “famines” we are experiencing. Let us trust that God is in control even if our situation, though maybe not a famine, is severe. God is greater than our circumstances and His love for us is greater than the “famines” we experience in our lives. Let us take that step of faith and not shrink back in paralyzing fear.

Prayer: Lord, today, help me to trust You. Even in the midst of the “famines” in my life, help me to know that You are still in control and that You are greater. I know that You work all things for good, even when things may not go exactly as I want. Regardless of these circumstances, may I trust You with each step I take. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 39

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 6:25-34: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Questions to Consider

What are the two primary things mentioned that gives us anxiety? Do you relate to either of those things?
Who is the One who provides the things we are anxious about?
Ask yourself honestly: what are you seeking in your life – God or something else?

Notes

Jesus mentions that many are anxious about either food or clothing. However, Jesus likely was not simply talking about food and clothing: Food was about finances. You need finances to provide for yourself. Clothing was about reputation and honor. Clothing demonstrated your status and your honor. Birds do not worry about providing for themselves, and lilies do not worry about creating a reputation for themselves. Think of your own life: how often do you worry about finances and your reputation?
Jesus says, “Are you not of more value than the birds of the air, who God feeds? Will God not much more clothe you, just as He clothes the lilies of the field?” God is the One who will provide for us; He is the One who will give us honor. Do you believe that? Or do you still feel you need to provide for yourself and make a name for yourself?
Take time to reflect about this. For many of us, this may not be so blatant. The orientation of our lives may be subtly shifting away from God and towards our fears – our fears of not being provided for and our fears of not having a good name. Let’s surrender these fears to God and orient ourselves back to Him.

Evening Reflection

Take some to reflect on the things in your life that bring you fear and cause you to not trust God. Take some time to ask God to help you with those fears and invite Him to bring you peace.