February 2, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on July 29, 2018, is provided by Pastor Jason Sato. Jason, along with his wife Jessica and their three young children, is serving in Japan as an AMI missionary.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The Book of Naomi”

Ruth 1:1-5, 19-21 (ESV)

[1] In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. [2] The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. [3] But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. [4] These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, [5] and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband…

[19] So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” [20] She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. [21] I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”

That the book of Ruth is named after Ruth is not surprising.  Ruth is obviously amazing.   She’s like a Bible superhero.  But one can argue that the book of Ruth is really about Naomi.  The book starts and ends with Naomi and sees Naomi change the most.

In the days of the Judges, God’s people are living in the Promised Land but they’re not following God.  They’re doing whatever is right in their own eyes so God disciplines them through a famine.  Rather than receiving that discipline, Elimelech and Naomi take their family outside of the Promised Land.  This is not the same as moving because you got a job in another city.  Being in the Promised Land is a key part of belonging to God’s people. 

Elimelech and Naomi experience hardship and, their move to Moab, in effect, says that they are done with this land and with this God. They still believe in the Lord, that He exists and that He saved Israel from Egypt, but they do not trust Him with their lives or with their family.

After Elimelech dies, Naomi does not go back to Judah.  Instead she finds Moabite women for her sons to marry, knowing that God has forbidden this because they will lead her sons away from the Lord.  Moab is something like 60 miles away from Israel.  It was possible that she could have found Israelite wives for her boys, but she does not care to do so. (Or, she couldn’t or wouldn’t dissuade her sons from marrying pagan women.) Then her sons tragically die as well.

Because she has nowhere else to go, Naomi returns to Israel and tells the people of Jerusalem how the Lord has turned her from sweet (Naomi) to bitter (Mara).  She left full!  Life was so good when she rejected God and His promises but now she is empty!

Naomi has rejected God’s discipline, left the Promised Land, encouraged her sons to become idolaters and then blames God for her misfortune.  What is the response of God?  To be inexplicably good to Naomi.  God blesses her with Ruth, Boaz, and finally Obed (Naomi’s grandson).

We too lose faith and quit on God so readily, yet His loving kindness is steadfast.  He continues to give.  How often has God blessed us when we are lukewarm, in sin, or hard of heart?  What other God loves like the Lord?

Prayer: Father, thank You that You love like no other person ever has or ever will.  Time and time again I go my own way.  Yet even when my heart is not right with You, You love me still.  May I put all my trust in You.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 38

February 1, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on December 30, 2017, is provided by Phillip Chen who is associate pastor at Kairos Christian Church in San Diego. Phil is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Wrestling with God”

Genesis 32:22-29 (ESV)

The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. 24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel,[f] for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him.

Often times, we read this passage and we focus on Jacob’s tenacity and his unwillingness to let go of God until He has blessed him. We talk about how this applies to us and our approach in prayer, boldly and confidently wrestling with God until He has answered us. We talk about the perseverance, the grit, and the tenacity that Jacob had which we should emulate. Yes, we can learn a lot from Jacob and his desire to be blessed, but this morning, I’d like to focus on God’s willingness to wrestle with us. 

I used to wrestle a lot with my dad as a child. There were many times when I thought I would almost beat him. We would wrestle for a while, and it would seem like we were both tied until the very end when he would pin me. Of course, looking back, I realize that my dad could have easily pinned me if he wanted to – but the continuation of his wrestling was an act of endearment towards me. In fact, the more I think about these wrestling matches, I realize that my dad had to harness his strength and power while exerting self-control to make it seem like he was trying without hurting me. There was actually a lot of love and tenderness in this father-son wrestling match. 

This passage depicts Jacob wrestling with a man whom he encounters. We later finds out that this mysterious man is an angel of the Lord – or at least someone who caused Jacob to refer to as “seeing the face of God.” This is such a strange sight, because God actually comes down to wrestle with Jacob. Jacob is no match for God – but when I think of this scene in conjunction with the wrestling matches I had with my father, I am reminded of a father wrestling with his son and how endearing this scene would have been.  

Many times, I think we can view God as someone with whom we have to wrestle, that His will is always opposing our sinful will. We can view God as a cosmic killjoy who is withholding blessing from us and wanting us to work to earn blessing from Him. If we don’t work hard enough, we don’t get the blessing. We see him as a stingy God who makes us work so hard to get so little. In our minds, we might see God as generous, but in our prayers and in our interactions with Him, we see Him as a distant and disengaged God who doesn’t want to really pour out blessings upon us. We think of Him as someone with  whom we have to wrestle.  Yet when I think of a father wrestling with his son, I see love and tenderness rather than stinginess and disengagement. Now when I read this story, I see a loving Father who wants to wrestle with one of His sons because He loves him so dearly. He comes face to face with Jacob to wrestle him for the sake of the interaction. I don’t think God’s intention was ever to withhold blessing from Jacob.  This wrestling match wasn’t something that Jacob had to win on his own accord so that he could receive a blessing. The wrestling match itself was part of the blessing that God intended for Jacob. God was willing to come down in the form of man to wrestle with Jacob, and that itself shows us His desire to draw near to us and bless us.

As we reflect upon this past year, what are ways that you can see God ‘wrestling’ with you? May we be encouraged to know that you and I have a God who draws near to us and wrestles with us, ultimately so that we may partake of His abundant blessings. 

Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your love for us. Thank You that You are not a distant God, but You are a God who draws near to us. Thank You that You don’t withhold blessing from us, but You actually seek us out so that You can pour out Your blessing upon us so lavishly. Help us to believe this truth, uprooting wrongful views we have of You. Even in the ways our earthly fathers have failed to accurately show this picture, help us to realize the goodness and the love of Your heart as our Father. We pray in Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 36-37

January 31, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was first posted on January 19, 2018.  Cami served faithfully as a staff member at several AMI churches in the past.  

Devotional Thought For This Morning

“Onan | Selfishness Kills”

Genesis 38:6-10

Judah acquired a wife for Er his firstborn; her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord killed him. 8 Then Judah said to Onan, “Have sexual relations with your brother’s wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her so that you may raise up a descendant for your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the child would not be considered his. So whenever he had sexual relations with his brother’s wife, he withdrew prematurely so as not to give his brother a descendant. 10 What he did was evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord killed him too.

Have you ever been in an impossible predicament – where all options seem undesirable? In some ways, this is where Onan found himself. I don’t believe Onan deserves defending (God doesn’t seem to think so either – see v.10). However this story could use some contextualization. As the second of three sons, Onan was entitled to one-fourth of his father Judah’s inheritance (his younger brother receiving the same and his older brother receiving double). If Tamar had a son, that son would be entitled to his father’s two-forth portion. With no heirs from Er, Onan was entitled to two-thirds of Judah’s wealth. And so the predicament—fulfill his legal and familial responsibility of giving Tamar children (see yesterday’s Devotional Thought for more info on this), or be disgraced for refusing to do so. 

Onan chose (drum roll please)… SELFISHNESS (and in the worst way). Instead of honoring his brother, family, and culture, he chose selfish gain. He chose to allow both his brother’s name and memory to be erased (which would happen with no male heir) and the end of a genealogical line in the family of God, all for a two-thirds inheritance (i.e. he did it for the money). Worst still, instead of being honest about his choice (in which case he still would get the money), instead of being upfront regarding his unwillingness, he feigned honor by repeatedly exploiting Tamar, having sex with her knowing full well she would not conceive. Instead of doing what was required or releasing her so other arrangements could potentially be made for her livelihood, Onan chose cowardice and used her. So God released her (again see v.10). 

Sometimes systems are in place that leaves us with unfavorable options. Patriarchy is a system that leaves women completely vulnerable and youths (younger brothers in this instance) over-exposed.  But no matter the system, we always have a choice—to be selfish and exploitative (using systems and others for our own gain) or to be just and loving (working within the system to do what is right and good—or overturning it all together). Onan made his choice and “it was evil in the Lord’s sight.” 

Prayer: Almighty God, help me to be a person who chooses to do what is right and good, even when I’m presented with unfavorable options. Give me the courage to not only look to my own interests but also to the interests of others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.   

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 35

Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 2:1-11: Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any affection or mercy, 2 complete my joy and be of the same mind, by having the same love, being united in spirit, and having one purpose. 3 Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. 4 Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. 5 You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, 6 who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. 8 He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross! 9 As a result God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Questions to Consider

  • What do you think it means “to be moved to treat others as more important than yourself”? Why do you think Paul gives these instructions? 
  • In v.4 Paul does not say that we should not have any concern for our own interests. Instead, he says that we should also look to the interests of others. How does this challenge or align with how you typically think of considering others (loving and serving others)? 
  • What would it mean for you to “have the same attitude… that Christ Jesus had”? What are some practical ways you could follow Jesus’ example in the specific relationships in your life? 


Notes

  • Whatever considering others better than ourselves means, it is set up as the opposite to being motivated by selfish ambition (doing things purely for our own gain) and vanity (self-absorption). In most of my relationships, I have found that self-absorption is something people do unintentionally and absent-mindedly. People are naturally self-absorbed (some more than others). Therefore, it requires intentionality and an explicitly command to lead us to the kind of love and rationality God calls us to as believers. Yes, self-absorption is natural, and selfishness is what we naturally pursue as an ultimate gain, but God calls us to a better way. And from Jesus we see that as we consider others, we too are blessed. In their gain is our gain!
  • Oftentimes, Christian love is characterized as something that is utterly selfless. So much so that I’ve found in ministry (and in my own life) it difficult to convince Christians to do simple things for the purpose of self-care or basic self-sustenance. Paul reminds us that our interests are not wholly unimportant; they are just not singular and ultimate. We also have others to consider. 
  • Spend some time in personal reflection. 

Evening Reflection

What are some of the specific areas or relationships in your life where your tendency toward selfishness (pursuit of selfish gain or absentminded self absorption) is harmful to the people around you? Ask God for discernment and clarity and for ways to you can practically look also to the interests of others. Consider asking those closest to you (your closest friends, family members, coworkers—those with whom you do life regularly) to help you answer these questions as well. 

January 30, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on January 11, 2018, is written by Tina Pham who, along with her family, is serving in E. Asia as a missionary. Tina is a graduate of Biola University (BA) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Unpredictability of God’s Promise”

Genesis 35:21-27 (NASB)

Then Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond, the tower of Eder. It came about while Israel was dwelling in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now there were twelve, sons of Jacob–the sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, then Simeon and Levi and Judah and Issachar and Zebulun; the sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin; and the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s maid: Dan and Naphtali; and the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s maid: Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram. Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre of Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where, Abraham and Isaac had sojourned.

In my early 20’s, I naively believed that God placed me in positions because I had what it took to do it—and I took in people’s praises a little too much. Then, in the process of struggling through jobs, studies, and ministry, I began to swallow the fact that He chose me for certain roles so that He could reveal Himself to me, as well as to reveal more about myself —particularly, my weaknesses. Though learning more about myself isn’t fun sometimes, I’ve gained much freedom through it and have tasted more of God’s grace. 

Similarly, stories of Jacob’s family also highlight the dynamics of God’s choice and His grace. After God promised to Jacob, saying, “I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come forth from you” (Gen. 35:11), Jacob hears the horrific news that his firstborn son, Reuben, slept with Bilhah, one of Jacob’s concubines. As the firstborn, Reuben was in a position to receive greater inheritance and a greater role among the sons of Israel, but his immoral act came with its consequences. We don’t hear again of his relations with Bilhah until Genesis 49:3-4, when Jacob speaks prophecy over his sons and says, “Reuben, you are my firstborn; my might and the beginning of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. Uncontrolled as water, you shall not have preeminence, because you went up to your father’s bed; then you defiled it–he went up to my couch.” 

 The stories of Jacob and his sons highlight both the sinfulness of man and the goodness of God. God declares a grand promise over Jacob’s line, but He knowingly chooses Jacob’s imperfect family to fulfill His plans. Stories in Genesis—such as this one—were written for its immediate audience, the later generation of Israel during Joshua’s time who were about to possess the promised land, to remind them,“Know, therefore, that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people” (Deut. 9:6). God who made a promise to Israel is gracious and merciful. He did not choose Israel based upon merit or virtue.  He also chooses you and me for salvation and for His works in the same way. 

Today, let’s begin our day thanking the Lord for choosing us, not because of our works, but because of His grace and His goodness.

Prayer: Praise the Lord, for You are so kind and compassionate.  There certainly have been some good as well as not-so-good moments in my life, and I thank You for all of them because through them, You continue to teach me what it means to love and depend on You.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 34

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-31: For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Questions to Consider

  • What is Paul telling the Corinthians regarding themselves?
  • Why do the Corinthians need this teaching and encouragement?
  • In what ways do you think your background and your current situation allows more for God’s power, wisdom, and strength to be displayed in your life?

Notes

  • Paul is guiding the Corinthians to think about where they started when they first became Christians. Their significance does not derive from their own background, but now comes from the work of Jesus Christ.
  • Living among non-Christian Jews and Greeks at that time, the Christians in Corinth started to become insecure about their faith in a Messiah who died, was crucified, and resurrected in full bodily form. The Jews believed that a Messiah who died cannot possibly be the Messiah as promised in the Scriptures.  The Greeks also thought that it was foolish to place faith in someone who resurrected into full bodily form; in Greek thinking, flesh is bad, and only the spirit is good. For these reasons, Christians started to be insecure and ashamed of their faith and needed this encouragement. 
  • Personal reflection.

Evening Reflection

1 Corinthians 1:30 says, “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.” We are all where we are today because of “His doing.” Spend some time reflecting on how God is in every part of your life and invite Him to continue to be wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption for you.

January 29, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional Spiritual, first posted on January 31, 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

“Obedience in Step with God’s Revelation”

Genesis. 41:33-37 

“And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.” 37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. 38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”

Whether new to Christian faith or seasoned, we all desire to “know God’s will,” or find direction in various aspects of our lives—careers, relationships, locations. It is good to seek alignment, because we believe that God knows what is best for His people. We also believe that it is possible for us to hear Him speak through various means—His Word, in time of prayer, through others, and circumstances around us. But as important as it is to hear God, it is just as important to meet His revelation with obedience on our end! 

We see this in Genesis after Pharaoh receives revelation interpreted by Joseph. He immediately acts upon it. There is no debate or attempt to test God’s trustworthiness. Once he hears the word from God, Pharaoh acts on God’s leading and the plan set out to save his people.

As followers of Jesus, we are to live in step with the Spirit’s leading. We want to hear what God has to say, but we must first be absolutely surrendered as His servants. Have you been asking for God to provide direction on something? Are you also sure that you will obey Him when He speaks? Before we continue to seek answers for our questions, let’s ask Him to prepare character and the faithfulness to be obedient. 

If you are unsure of whether you are up to the task, do not fear! Our God is merciful and our sympathetic High Priest. Even if we approach Him with weak faith and trust, He will take it and use it for His purposes. Let us ask Him to give us hearts that will be increasingly yielded and prepared to follow Him as our Lord and Master.

(“The Heavenly Father does not ask for golden vessels. He does not ask for silver vessels. God asks for yielded vessels—those who will submit their will to the will of the Father. And the greatest human attainment in all the world is for a life to be so surrendered to Him that the name of God Almighty will be glorified through that life.” – Kathryn Kuhlman)

Prayer: Lord, we want to live lives that are pleasing to You! Teach us to choose to obey and not resist the calling that You invite us into. Help us to listen carefully and be sensitive to Your will. In the meantime, let us not despise when You shape our character so we can be prepared to love You whenever, wherever, however.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 33

Lunch Break Study

Read Acts 9:1-19: But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.

Questions to Consider

  • Up until now, Saul has been a persecutor of the faith, with free rein to threaten and murder disciples. How is this contrasted with his attitude once God approaches him?
  • When God comes to Ananias, how does Ananias first respond?
  • What is the result of Ananias’s obedience? How might God call us to similar acts of obedience?

Notes

  • When God comes to meet Saul, he becomes humble, meek, and dependent. God does not give Saul any clear direction, only saying that the steps will be revealed in time. From a confident man who led charges against others, Saul is now led by others.
  • The first thing Ananias does upon hearing God’s voice, is to submit himself as available for God’s purposes. He did not know what God would ask him to do at that moment. Indeed, he expressed his reservations about God’s plan, but he went straightaway to fulfill it. 
  • The result of Ananias’s obedience was that Saul became one of God’s foremost evanglists. While the task did not seem safe, nor did it seem logical, Ananias was used as an instrument in God’s plan. His role was small (the laying on of hands), but it was mightily used by God.

Evening Reflection

In view of the theme of obedience discussed in the morning, how did you fare today? Did you encounter a moment in which you heard from the Lord and were asked to obey? Consider how you were led to obey or not obey. Let’s commit the decisions and inclinations of our heart in prayer and ask God for strength in tomorrow’s decisions.

January 28, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional Spiritual, first posted on March 27, 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

“Expectant Pursuit”

Mark 5:25-28 

Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

 “It feels like I’m always chasing you, Lord,” I recently said to God in my prayer time, retrospectively recollecting on my constant pursuit to experience more of His power and presence. It’s not as if He has ever been farther than the breath on my lips, but without question, I have sought Him; and I continue to invest my heart to seeking after the Lord. I have relentlessly pursued Him in the private, and I have sought to encounter Him in the public. 

One common fruit from all this pursuit has been that He never fails me. In fact, the Lord continues to surprise me with fresh encounters of Him—not all in the familiar ways—but in ways where the Lord breathes alive dormant truths that bring experiences as reality. This expectancy fuels the pursuit, the pursuit spawns expectancy, and the Lord responds to such a desperate desire for His touch.  

Such was the case for the bleeding woman in Mark 5:28, where she says to herself, If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well. Deemed as incurable and having expended all her resources, she sees Jesus, the miracle healer walking amongst a travelling crowd; and her expectant pursuit for only a healing touch of His garment, heals her instantly. What a glorious moment where heaven met her, and the truth that God cares for her wellbeing became a realistic encounter! 

This is the joy of our salvation, that we may continue to seek after the Lord and discover that the expectancy in our pursuit will not leave us disappointed. It is the desire of the Heavenly Father to unveil Himself to us, and allow all that He speaks of in His Word regarding Himself and us to be tangible truths for us to experience as reality. Challenge Him in this if you doubt, because He responds to our wholehearted desire for Him. He is worthy of such a pursuit! 

So during this Passion Week, let us reflect on how our pursuit for the Lord may have become dry, diluted, or unbelieving. Let us make a fresh commitment to seek the Lord with eager expectancy, because the Lord is a great rewarder to those who diligently seek Him!

Prayer: Dear Father, you are worthy of all of me! You are my Father and I am your offspring. I have nothing worthwhile apart from you. I pray that you will breathe Your Spirit afresh on me. I want to be excited about all that has to do with You, and love You first with all of my heart. I want to experience Your Truths in my life. Thank you!  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 32

Lunch Break Study

Read Isaiah 55:6-7: Seek the Lord while He may be found,call upon Him while He is near.

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

Questions to consider

1. How does it look to you personally to pursue God wholeheartedly?

2. Are there any disappointments you have that keeps you from believing to receive from God?

3. What is one truth in God’s Word that you want to press in to experience more of or to experience as reality?

Notes

1. The greater measure to which we set our hearts to know the Lord is the measure to which we will find Him. It’s important not to be dismayed, but His mercies are new everyday, and we can have a fresh pursuit each day, one day at a time.

2. Unaddressed disappointments can root unbelief. It should not be left to fester but should address it by recognizing, taking responsibility for agreeing with lies, repenting for it, and removing the lies. 

3. Some examples of such truths may be that God is a healer, that God is generous, that the same power that raised Christ from the dead is in us, etc.

Evening Reflection

We started the day thinking about how we should have a wholehearted, expectant pursuit of God with our lives. In light of this reflection, did you find yourself seeking the Lord more?

January 27, Monday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted March 5, 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

“Don’t Leave Home Without the Power of the Spirit”

Mark 1:1-8 (ESV)

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, 3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” 4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 

The Gospel of Mark opens with John the Baptist’s acknowledgment of the superiority of Jesus’ ministry, based on one very important distinction—the nature of their baptisms.  We read that while John baptized his followers in water, Jesus came to baptize His disciples in the Holy Spirit.  John clearly saw the limitation of his own ministry, and in this passage he talks about the fact that his own work is limited to baptism by water. 

 Now, water serves as the symbol of cleansing and the forgiveness of sin, but in reality, water does nothing more than cleanse the outside of your body.  No matter how refreshed you may feel after a shower, no one thinks that water has the capacity to cleanse the heart or renew the soul.  I remember talking with a PhD student who marveled at the unique properties of water.  (It is the only substance that is lighter in its solid form than in its liquid form, which allows for life on earth.)  Admittedly, water is amazing and it sustains physical life, but it cannot do the one thing that is most important for you and me: it cannot give life to the soul.  

It should be noted that the first activity that is identified with Jesus—the distinguishing mark of His ministry—is the fact that He is the baptizer of the Holy Spirit.  And it is this baptism in the Holy Spirit that unlocks the door to living more powerfully for God.  Dwight L. Moody, the great American evangelist, speaks about his experience with the Holy Spirit in his memoirs.  In the summer of 1871, two women in his congregation felt a burden to pray for Moody “that the Lord would give him the baptism of the Holy Ghost and of fire.”  Every Sunday, he would see them praying in the front row, and at first, he was irritated.  Eventually, realizing he had no power behind his preaching, he decided to join them in prayer every Friday afternoon.  In November of that year, when his church burned down to the ground, he went to New York to raise funds to rebuild his church.  Day and night, he wandered the streets of the city, desperate for just a touch of God’s power in his life. 

Then suddenly it happened.  Moody explained: “One day, in the city of New York—oh, what a day!—I cannot describe it, I seldom refer to it; it is almost too sacred an experience to name . . . I can only say that God revealed himself to me, and I had such an experience of his love that I had to ask him to withhold his hand.”  From that day on, Moody would confess that though he did not present any new truths, for some reason hundreds were converted in response to his preaching.  The message was the same, but the power behind the man had changed completely.  In the same way, the Holy Spirit is the only way that you and I can ever hope to live boldly and courageously for God. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to live in the power of Your Holy Spirit.  If there is anything that is hindering the Spirit’s work in my life, I pray that it would be revealed to me.  If there is any sin that is grieving Your Spirit, help me to come to a place of repentance.  Teach me how to live according to Your Spirit and to be filled continually by His presence. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Genesis 31

Lunch Break Study

Read John 16:7-15 (ESV): Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 

Questions to Consider

  • Why was it good that Jesus left the disciples after the resurrection?
  • What will the Holy Spirit convict the world of?
  • What does the Holy Spirit teach believers?

Notes

  • Because upon His ascension, Jesus was free to send the Holy Spirit.  Now the ministry of Christ was no longer bound by His bodily limits but available to spread freely through all those who believed in His name.  
  • One of the functions of the Holy Spirit is to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.  First, the Spirit reveals the sin of unbelief and convicts the human conscience of its rejection of Christ.  Second, the Spirit directs the world to a righteousness that can only be secured through the finished work of Christ.  Finally, the Holy Spirit declares to the world the victory of Christ over Satan.  
  • The Holy Spirit leads believers in the truth that is taught by the Father and the Son.  The Spirit does not teach based on His own authority, but what has been given to Him by the Son.  In essence, the ministry of the Spirit points believers to Christ and connects them to their Savior.  

Evening Reflection

Take time in worship and prayer, asking the Lord to fill you with His Spirit.  How has the Holy Spirit been moving in your life recently?  What conviction or revelation have you experienced as a result of seeking the Lord?  

January 26, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on November 26, 2017, is provided by Pastor Joshua Kim. Joshua, a graduate of Emory University, Columbia Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Talbot Theological Seminary (Th.M.), is the Lead Pastor of Upper Room Seattle church.  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“How to Measure Success?”

Genesis 22.15-19

And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived at Beersheba.

My honest confession is that one of the hardest parts of ministry is that there are often no tangible measurements for success. Is a successful ministry measured by how many people come on Sundays? How much tithing and offering a church brings in? Is it by the number of baptisms or how many are in attendance in your small groups? Perhaps to some extent, but none of these are perfect measurements. But you can see why in such a context, it can become a temptation to rely on these things to get some level of measuring how well things are going. But what could follow, if not carefully checked and brought before the Lord, is a culture within the church where performance is always measured. And this can happen in our individual spiritual lives as well. 

Our spirituality can easily become twisted into thinking that certain acts entitle us to positions or blessings in life. And this is what we could read into today’s passage. Because Abraham was obedient, because Abraham was willing to sacrifice even his one and only son, God rewards Abraham with blessings. But if you carefully look at what God will bless Abraham with, aren’t these things what God has already promised to Abraham? Is this not the details of the covenant already established back in Genesis 15?

Our obedience to God does not earn God’s blessings; they allow us to walk in God’s blessings. Our obedience to God transforms us to become the vessel that can hold God’s blessings. In the end, it is God’s grace towards us that we are able to experience His blessings. One thing we must always hold in our hearts and mind is this truth: God’s unchanging disposition is to bless. 

On this Sabbath day, find rest in the fact that our God is a God who blesses. And may our hearts respond in worship of a God who loves undeserving creatures like us. 

Prayer: Father, thank You for this story. There are many things that’s hard to understand, but it points us to the kind of relationship You had built with Abraham that led him to this point. It was You who initiated it, and it was You who sustained it. And I believe You want that same kind of relationship with me. As I learn to walk with You, may the purposes of God be fulfilled in my life as I walk in intimate relationship with You. In Jesus’ Name, amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 30

January 25, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Though, first posted on December 10, 2017, is provided by Andy Kim who is the Lead Pastor of Radiance Christian Church in San Francisco.  Andy is a graduate of Northwestern University (B.S.) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Glorying God in All that We Do”

Genesis 26:26-31

When Abimelech went to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army, 27 Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?” 28 They said, “We see plainly that the Lord has been with you. So we said, let there be a sworn pact between us, between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you, 29 that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord.”30 So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. 31 In the morning they rose early and exchanged oaths. And Isaac sent them on their way, and they departed from him in peace.

After a few years of working in corporate America, I felt the Lord calling me to pursue full- time ministry. The conversation I had with my boss would be one to remember. To provide some context, my boss was a devout Hindu who knew I was a Christian—way too devoted to church work. That day, I stepped into her office and gave her my resignation, explaining that I wanted to pursue full- time ministry. After much disbelief and negotiation, she allowed me to work on a flex schedule that gave me enough time to focus on ministry. But more than these benefits, it was her passing remark that I cherished: She said, “Andrew, you put out good work. But more than that, I feel like having you on my team means I have God on my team.” She joked saying that she wanted all the extra good karma possible, but even if it was a joke it meant everything to me. 

In our passage today, Isaac has even a greater testimony to share. Keep in mind, Isaac and Abimelech started on the wrong foot after Isaac lied about his wife Rebekah. Not only this, Abimelech felt threatened by Isaac’s prosperity in his land and forced him out. But even in the midst of all his hatred, somehow, Abimelech returns to Isaac. Why? Because it was evident that the Lord had been with Isaac. Even this pagan Philistine king who hated Isaac couldn’t deny the presence of the Lord upon Isaac and ultimately submits to him! There is no mention of Isaac speaking to Abimelech or doing anything, but both walk away in peace. May we be encouraged to live in a manner so that others may plainly see that the Lord is with us.  D.L. Moody once said, “We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won’t need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don’t fire cannons to call attention to their shining—they just shine.” He believed that the most effective way of showing God was by how we lived. May everything we do, whether it is how we drink or eat, reflect the glory of the Lord so that all may come to know this amazing God! 

Prayer: Father, may we be a light on a lampstand that gives light the entire world. Like how the moon reflects the sun, help us to reflect Your light to the people around us. Father, empower the way that we work, serve others, care for others, so that people may see Your love in us. May our lives become living testimonies in which people may come to know You.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 28-29

January 24, Friday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on July 16, 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 This Morning

“Sabbath Rest”

Jeremiah 17:19-23

This is what the Lord said to me: “Go and stand at the Gate of the People, through which the kings of Judah go in and out; stand also at all the other gates of Jerusalem. 20 Say to them, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, you kings of Judah and all people of Judah and everyone living in Jerusalem who come through these gates. 21 This is what the Lord says: Be careful not to carry a load on the Sabbath day or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem. 22 Do not bring a load out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your ancestors. 23 Yet they did not listen or pay attention; they were stiff-necked and would not listen or respond to discipline.

I’ve never considered myself to be a workaholic. I have seen my fair share of people who prefer to be busy, or who need to have a schedule packed to the brim as to not waste a moment; but personally—  whether it’s due to my personality, my location (sunny San Diego), or something deeper—I’m not like that.  However, this past year brought a lot of changes and transitions in my life, and with that came a myriad of new responsibilities. As work piled up, I found myself getting busier and busier. There was always something that needed to be done or needed to be thought through—and this made it easy to forgo taking any sort of meaningful Sabbath. Why set aside an entire day away from work when that would just leave more to get back to the next day?

Of course, we’re supposed to find our rest in God, and my foolishness in the above account is immediately apparent, even as I’m writing it. We observe the Sabbath day to refresh and refocus our hearts, to remember God’s covenant and creation, and to realize our dependence on Him to sustain us through our communion. God created the Sabbath as a blessing, although it’s easy for us to dismiss it as an unnecessary luxury, or worse, an inconvenience.

Some of us may really love being busy, to the point that we idolize it; while others, like me, might just find themselves gradually with more things to do. That’s where we see the beauty of the Sabbath. Where an every-day work week may have been the norm, God commanded the Israelites to set apart one day without working; he was disrupting their normal perspective of work. In our context, it’s easy to feel good about spending time working and being productive. Conversely, it’s difficult for us to spend an entire day producing nothing tangible with our time and effort, because we feel unproductive. I believe it’s just for that reason why God mentions discipline in this passage—because He knows that even resting in the Lord is something that does not come naturally to us. Instead of being grateful to be able to spend time with God, we become agitated at having to “waste” time we could be spending doing other things. But God wants us to experience real rest. And for us to experience this real rest on a regular basis, it takes discipline—the discipline to stop working and to take a step back to remember God.

Prayer: Lord, I know it’s easy for me to fill my time with things that seem productive and important. And I know You haven’t put me where I am today just to disregard my responsibilities. But God, I want to trust that prioritizing You, finding my rest in You, and committing my time to spend with You, are all going to lead to more spiritual riches for me to reap. Help me to trust You enough to make time and space for You during the week. Fill me up so I can keep pouring out for You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 27

Lunch Break Study

Read Exodus 31:12-17 (NIV): Then the Lord said to Moses, 13 “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.14 “‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people. 15 For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death. 16 The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17 It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”

Questions to Consider

  • What are the reasons God lists for the Israelites to observe the Sabbath?
  • How did the Israelites set apart the Sabbath?
  • How can you set apart the Sabbath?

Notes

  • It is a sign of the covenant between God and Israel for future generations; it is to know God; it is holy to the Israelites; it is holy to the Lord; it is a day of rest; and it is reflective of God’s six days of creation and seventh day of rest.
  • It was simple—they refrained from working that day. The Sabbath was to be so holy and set apart that anyone who worked on that day was to be put to death. This would have been presumably in the context of pagan neighbors who were continuing to work.
  • Personal response.

Evening Reflection

We tend to forget the Sabbath because we forget that God is the One who gives us true rest. Instead, we turn to entertainment, traveling, fitness, gaming, and other activities to refresh us. Spend some time asking God to refocus your heart on Him, and that He may continue to give you abundant life.