REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 16, 2017.

Devotional Thought for This Morning 

“Neither Secularized nor Sanitized but the Real MLK”

Exodus 5:1 (NIV)

Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.’”

Though secularism removes any hint of God from the public square, that’s difficult to do on a day when the work of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) is fondly remembered.  Apparently, that’s not the case for the hardcore secularists who, according to Stephen Carter, professor of law at Yale, treat MLK’S religious calling “as a relatively unimportant aspect of his career, if indeed, it is mentioned at all.”  Consider what Christopher Hitchens, author of God is not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, says: “In no real as opposed to nominal sense, then, was [MLK] a Christian.”  How so?  Hitchens, who categorically classifies the Bible as a book spewing of violence, reasons that King couldn’t be a Christian since he wasn’t given to violence.  Sam Harris, another famed atheist, writes, “We simply do not need religious ideas to motivate us to live ethical lives.”  Whereas I refuse to dignify Hitchen’s illogic with a response, Harris’ view, in contrast, has its merits (see below)—but not in the case of MLK.

Indisputably, King, a man of extraordinary faith and courage, attained his vision from God: “Free at last, free at last; thank God Almighty, we are free at last.”  In “God Is Marching On” speech in Montgomery, Alabama, he quoted Micah 6:8, “Act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God,” to describe the kind of people whom the voters should elect to represent them—so much for the intellectual honesty of secularists.

On the other hand, there are those who, while stressing the heroics of MLK, sanitize his life to such a degree that it borders on the cult of personality.  It’s now a matter of public record that he wasn’t always faithful to his wife, and Boston University had considered (Time, Nov. 1990), but ultimately decided not to revoke King’s doctorate degree, despite finding that parts of his dissertation were plagiarized.  Nevertheless, I agree with Time article’s conclusion: “Even though the revelation may tarnish King’s reputation, they hardly diminish his courageous and inspirational accomplishments in helping to achieve racial justice for millions of black American.”  Anyone who has seen an old footage showing MLK and his fellow marchers never wavering from their just cause, even when batons and fire hoses were used to halt them, would agree.  Don’t be, then, too surprised at God using MLK in spite of him, not necessarily because of him; look no further than King David, erstwhile adulterer and murderer, for proof.  Subsequently, God receives all the glory, and thus, we are inspired to place our faith on Him, not on men.  

Of course, we are far from being “a nation where [we] will not be judged by the color of [our] skin but by the context of [our] character.”  In fact, the situation in America has gotten more complicated as class now affects individual’s future prospect, argued Harvard sociologist William J. Wilson, as much as race.

That is, the middleclass folks (whether black, white or yellow) judge those who aren’t included in their class more by where they live, what they do, and the level of their education than simply the color of one’s skin.  Either way, both racism and classism originate from the same source: a proud heart.  

So, on this day, as we observe the birthday of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., an imperfect servant of God whose courageous vision carved out a path toward freedom for the oppressed (whether racial or class), let us “not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited” (Rom. 12: 16).

Prayer: Father, You created all ethnic (ethnos) groups and the people therein, and we have all fallen short of Your glory.  It was for us that You sent your Son to do what no human government can do: forgiving our sins and making us righteous in Christ.  May You use my life and church to heal the nations (ethnos).  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 23

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Lunch Break Study

Read John 8:32-6: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  33 [The Jews] answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” 34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” 

Romans 2:14-5: (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)

Question to Consider

1. Martin Luther King was inspired by Moses, who boldly demanded freedom from Pharaoh (“Set my people free”).  What kind of freedom was this? 

2. While the freedom that Moses sought was important and certainly was part of God’s will, Jesus expanded that freedom during his ministry to another—a greater freedom.  What was Christ offering?

3. The atheist Sam Harris says that “we simply do not need religious ideas to motivate us to live ethical lives.” Does Romans 2:14-5 lend support to his view?

Notes

1. The freedom that Moses sought after was political and social freedom. 

2. The freedom that Christ offered then, and continue to offer today, is spiritual freedom; that is, being liberated from Satan’s rule, thanks to Christ who destroyed “the devil’s work” (1 Jn. 3:8; Heb. 2:14-5). 

3. God’s law written on human hearts is universal, meaning it is applicable to atheists as well as to Buddhists.   While the conscience may not work very well, due to man’s sinful nature and unhealthy environment, God, nevertheless, places it there so that “you, . . . though evil, know how to give good gifts to your children” (Mt. 7:11).  It is not for salvation but to maintain some semblance of social order and security for the wellbeing of all. 

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Evening Reflection

Let’s spend this moment praying for a true racial reconciliation to occur in America.  Pray for a revival to break out among the men in blue across the nation.  Pray for the leaders of African American community, that they may seek God’s wisdom and heart even as they cry out for justice and fairness.

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on December 3, 2017, is written by Pastor David Son who pastors the Thrive Church in Taipei.  He is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley (BA) and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Stay up to date with the church by following them here: https://www.instagram.com/thrivechurchtaipei/

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Willingness”

Genesis 24:57-58

They said, “Let us call the young woman and ask her.” And they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.”

In order to become a US Navy SEAL, you need to be 28 years or younger, have near perfect vision, be able to run 1.5 miles in 9-10 minutes or less, do 100+ pushups in 2 minutes, 100+ sit-ups in 2 minutes, and swim 500 yards (5 football fields) in less than 8 minutes. And those are just some of the physical requirements; there is a whole lot more testing that you have to pass in order to potentially become a Navy SEAL. They are one of the elite forces in the United States military, and so their selection process is very stringent. Only the cream of the crop should even think about applying. But those who go on to become SEALs are some of the most honored, respected, and saluted service-men in our nation.

The way our society works is that the more prestigious a position is, the harder it is to attain that position—that makes sense to us. Perhaps this is why it’s so counter-intuitive to serve a God whose only requirement of us is that we be willing. We don’t need to have perfect vision, be in peak physical condition, or have the best grades and test scores. All we need to have in order to be part of God’s plan is willingness. That’s it! The rest is up to God. 

Our passage today is a short one, and thus it can be easily missed. But what we see here is an incredible display of Rebekah’s willingness to respond to God’s plan. The reality is that she had just met this random man one day ago. He gave her some jewelry. Then he said some things about the Lord granting him success in his journey of finding her. Then, the next day he invites her to leave her house and go to a far-off land in order to become the wife of a man she has never met. But she trusts that God is truly behind the scenes, and she responds with a simple, “I will go,” and the rest is history. 

Rebekah’s response is not without precedent. Abraham also responded in the same way when God told him to leave his home in Ur of the Chaldeans. Also, Noah, when commanded to build a giant boat, proceeds to do so, in spite of the mockery surrounding him. Likewise, the prophet Isaiah responds to God’s call by saying, “Here I am, send me.” In the New Testament, when an angel appears before Mary with a shocking plan, Mary responds, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And perhaps the greatest example of willingness is our Lord Jesus Himself, who became obedient even to the point of death on a cross. When we look at Scripture, we see that the number one quality that God looks for in us is willingness.

How is your “willingness” these days? If God were to interrupt your plans today, how willing would you be to stop and join Him in whatever work He is inviting you into? Before we offer our skills, resources, gifts, and effort up to God, let us first don a willing heart!

Prayer: God, we recognize that the only things that are of eternal significance are the things that are of Your plan. So help us to seek Your kingdom first. Help us to put on willing hearts. In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 22

REPOST  Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on November 25, 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

“Decision”

Genesis 22:7-14

 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.

When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

At the heart of the gospel message is a decision. A decision by an infinite God who chose to love a people so undeserved, unmerited, and utterly sinful. A decision made without any obligation but to Himself. The gospel is about a decision. 

Today’s passage records another decision—the moment when Abraham chooses to put his faith into action. Everything has been prepared for the sacrifice. After carefully laying the wood in order, he binds his son and lays him on top of the altar. In this scene, it’s hard to imagine what is going on in Abraham’s mind—he gave Isaac a cryptic message earlier talking about how God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering. Was he talking about Isaac? Was he talking about the ram? It couldn’t be the latter as the angel had to quickly intervene before the knife struck Isaac. So what was he talking about?

Commentators note that this statement expressed Abraham’s faith that even if it meant that obeying God would result in the death of his son Isaac, because God’s covenant in that Isaac would be his heir and He would make his seed a great nation, God would provide a way. And we know that indeed God did provide a way. He provided His one and only Son.

So many parts of this story point our attention to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Some explain that Mount Moriah is where Solomon builds the temple, which in the future, the place upon which Christ is crucified would be just outside of it. “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” What no animal sacrifice could ever accomplish, the perfect Son of God laid down His life as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. What God would not have Abraham do, He did Himself.

As we have been trekking with Abraham, getting inside his mind, wondering what it’s like in his shoes to lay down his promised son on the altar, agonizing with him in making this decision to obey… and when we realize that God did make that decision, it leads us to marvel at how great the Father’s love is for us. For God so loved the world, He gave His one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall now perish, but have eternal life.  

Prayer: Father, thank You for the cross. Thank You that from the beginning, You had perfect plan to rescue Your people. What You would not force us to do, You did Yourself, so that we may live. As we marvel at this truth, we worship You in response. Thank You for Jesus. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 20-21

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on May 25, 2018, is provided by Jennifer Kim who served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“God’s Love for the Marginalized”

Jeremiah 6:1-11a 

“Flee for safety, people of Benjamin! Flee from Jerusalem! Sound the trumpet in Tekoa! Raise the signal over Beth Hakkerem! For disaster looms out of the north, even terrible destruction. 2 I will destroy Daughter Zion, so beautiful and delicate. 3 Shepherds with their flocks will come against her; they will pitch their tents around her, each tending his own portion.” 4 “Prepare for battle against her! Arise, let us attack at noon! But, alas, the daylight is fading, and the shadows of evening grow long. 5 So arise, let us attack at night and destroy her fortresses!” 6 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Cut down the trees and build siege ramps against Jerusalem. This city must be punished; it is filled with oppression. 7 As a well pours out its water, so she pours out her wickedness. Violence and destruction resound in her; her sickness and wounds are ever before me. 8 Take warning, Jerusalem, or I will turn away from you and make your land desolate so no one can live in it.” 9 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Let them glean the remnant of Israel as thoroughly as a vine; pass your hand over the branches again, like one gathering grapes.” 10 To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the Lord is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it. 11 But I am full of the wrath of the Lord, and I cannot hold it in. 

In 2014, after living apart from my family for five years, the Lord convicted me to move back in with my parents. It was an extremely difficult decision because of my long family history, but upon hearing from the Lord that this was my next mission field, I went in faith. It wasn’t long into my move when I started experiencing the same tensions that had originally made me believe I would never live at home again. I began to react to my old ways and I felt I was being everything but the beacon of light to my family that God had called me to. It was during this time when I had one of the most vivid dreams — my mother was nearing the end of her life, and during her last moments all I could say and feel was the remorse and regret for not treating her right and spending more time with her. Upon waking up, I knew the Lord was warning me of the regret I would feel if I did not mend my relationship with my mother. 

In today’s passage, Jeremiah sends warnings to various tribes in Judah to flee from Jerusalem before the destruction of the city. However, Jeremiah finds none whose ears are open and consequently, the prophet who had pleaded to God for mercy over Jerusalem, is filled with the wrath of the Lord and calls upon destruction to the city. For Jerusalem’s inability to recognize and heed the warnings from God, the entire city is turned over to judgment.

It has been about three years since I received the prophetic dream from God, and I have stayed by my family’s side, mending different aspects of our relationship. But about the time I was able to testify of the radical change I was experiencing in my family, my parents sold their home and are moving away as they figure out plans for their next stage in life. As I have been helping my parents pack up our home, I have seen the various pieces of my decision to return home, to the dream I received, to this season of parting from my family, all come together. Yet the question that irks me is, “What if I didn’t move back?” or “What if I ignored that dream?” Most likely, I would be parting from my family in regret of the time I didn’t spend with them. God is continuously sending us messages, people, Scripture, and even dreams to bring our lives to full alignment with His will. It is our job to recognize His call, heed His Word, and act upon the truth. Let us be men and women of God who recognize God’s voice and take action.

Prayer: God, I thank You that You are continuously speaking. I thank You for Your grace and patience even when I fall astray. Help me to recognize Your warnings and live a life in alignment with Your will. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 19

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Lunch Break Study

Read Ezekiel 33:1-7: The word of the LORD came to me: 2″Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, 3and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, 4then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head. 5Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head. If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves. 6But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’ 7″Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.

Questions to Consider

• What was the job of the watchman? What would happen if he did not fulfill his job? 
• What would happen to the people if they did not heed the warning of the trumpet?
• In light of the importance of heeding the warnings of God, what warnings have you heard from the Lord that you must heed?

Notes

• The watchman was to blow the trumpet to warn the people that the sword was coming down. If the watchman failed to blow the trumpet he would be responsible for the ones who died.
• If the people did not heed the warning, then their life would not be spared for their sins.
• Personal response.

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Evening Reflection

As we read in today’s morning and afternoon devotional, heeding the word of the Lord is a matter of life and death. God requires His children to be aware of His Father’s voice that we may walk in alignment with Him and it may be well with us. How did God speak to you today regarding obeying His Word? Did you obey? Or is God asking you to warn a brother or sister to walk in the ways of Truth? What ways can you be the watchman for those around you?

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on April 9, 2018, is provided by Emerson Lin. Emerson, who serves in E. Asia as a missionary, is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.).  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Confirmed”

Mark 9:2-8

After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

Kobe Beef is known all around the world as a very expensive type of beef. It is valued for its fatty flavor, tenderness, and marbled texture. People from all over the world travel to Hyōgo to taste this delicacy. Because Japan takes their Kobe Beef very seriously, each meat has a certificate indicating that it is certified Kobe Beef. Not only do they provide a certificate, but also a cow genealogy to ensure people that the meat they are eating is authentic. 

Like the certified delicacy, Jesus’ deity is confirmed twice, not only to His closest disciples, but to us. In this passage, Peter, James, and John climb up a mountain with Jesus. All of a sudden, they stand in awe of Jesus’ transfiguration. Mark describes that Jesus’ clothes became dazzling white—whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. For a short time, the disciples saw a small glimpse of Jesus’ true nature as the Son of God. Their teacher was not simply a prophet that God used, but He was God himself. If that confirmation was not enough, the disciples heard the audible voice of God saying, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

Jesus’ confirmations as the Son of God not only reminded me of His power and authority, but also of His humility. Jesus willingly let go of His glory and perfect intimacy with our Father, so that we may have the opportunity to experience the same glory! This morning, if you have not done so already, let’s give thanks for Jesus’ sacrificial love for us. It is through His sacrifice that we may have this relationship with our Father.

Prayer: Father, thank You so much that you confirmed Jesus’ identity through His transfiguration. Not only did you reveal Jesus’ glory, but You also remind us of His sacrifice for all of humanity. Like the disciples, may we continue to be in awe of you! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 18

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Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Corinthians 5:16-21: So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin^[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Questions to Consider

• According to this passage, what do we become when we become “in Christ?”
• How is that people’s sin would not be counted against them?
• What do we become, now that we have been committed to the message of reconciliation?  

Notes

• We become a new creation once we are in Christ!
• Jesus gave us the ministry of reconciliation so that people’s sins would not be counted against them. 
• When we commit to the message of reconciliation, we become Christ’s ambassadors. According to the passage, through us, God is making His appeal of grace to humanity. 

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Evening Reflection

In light of today’s sharing, what are some practical ways that you can imitate Christ’s humility? What are some obstacles in your life that prevent you from sacrificing for others? Write down a list of these obstacles and ask the Holy Spirit to help you overcome them. 

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on May 16, 2018, is provided by Ulysses Wang who pastors Renewal Church in Sunnyvale, California. Pastor Ulysses is a graduate of New York University (BA) and Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div.).  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“BUTTS IN SEATS”

Jeremiah 3:15-17

“‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. 16 And when you have multiplied and been fruitful in the land, in those days, declares the Lord, they shall no more say, ‘The ark of the covenant of the Lord.’ It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again. 17 At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the Lord, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart.”

As a pastor, and especially as a church planter, it’s easy at times to gauge how well your church is doing by the number of people who show up. If the BIS statistic is good- BUTTS IN SEATS- then I feel good. If it’s low, it’s easy to feel discouraged. While numbers can certainly mean something, especially if new believers are being added to the kingdom, it isn’t everything, and it’s also potentially misleading. What then should we be looking for? What does it mean for a church to be doing well?

In Jeremiah’s day, there was a problem- the shepherds of Israel- her religious leaders, weren’t taking proper care of the sheep. They managed the religious affairs of the people- offering sacrifices, running the festivals, etc.- but they weren’t truly shepherding the people. What then does it mean to be a good shepherd, as our Lord Jesus was? What does it mean to be “shepherds after [God’s] own heart”? This is where things get interesting. Jeremiah shifts from discussing shepherds to the topic of the ark of the covenant. Why? And why does he seem to downplay its importance, saying that “It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed”? The answer is found the following verse, where Jeremiah describes a future in which “the presence of the LORD” seems to have taken on greater significance. At that time the ark will no longer be remembered because what it represented- the presence of God- will be a reality. We will see God face to face, no longer dependent upon an artifact as the basis of our relationship with God.

Coming full circle, what does it mean then to truly shepherd God’s people? It means to deliver them from empty religious practice based more upon superstition than a real relationship with God. If you’re a leader of any sort in the church, what are you hoping for in those whom you lead? Don’t settle for them just showing up or padding the BIS stats- make it your goal that each person grows in a relationship with God and not in empty religious practice. And if you’re a child of God- leader or not- don’t settle for anything less than a growing sense of God’s presence in your life.

Prayer: Dear Lord, may I not settle for the ark of the covenant when I should be seeking for the God of the covenant. Forgive me for wherever I have replaced relationship with religion. Draw me deeper and deeper into Your presence, day by day. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 17

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Lunch Break Study  

Read 1 Samuel 4:5-11: As soon as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded. 6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, “What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” And when they learned that the ark of the Lord had come to the camp, 7 the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “A god has come into the camp.” And they said, “Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before.8 Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness.9 Take courage, and be men, O Philistines, lest you become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you; be men and fight.”10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home. And there was a very great slaughter, for thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell. 11 And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

Questions to Consider

1. In v.5, why did the Israelites give “a mighty shout”? What were they excited about?

2. In the end, what happened? How did the battle go?

3. What was the mistake of the Israelites? Do you see yourself relying upon any “arks” in your life?

Notes

1. They thought that the presence of the ark ensured victory in battle.

2. They lost- BIG TIME.

3. The Israelites relied on superstition rather than God. Israel’s religious life was in shambles, but they thought that didn’t matter because of a religious relic. Do you think your relationship with God is ok as long as you ______? 

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Evening Reflection

Reflect upon the state of your heart. Forget your title at church if you have one or whatever else anyone might have said about you. What is the state of your relationship with God when stripped of everything?

REPOST Today’s AMI Quiet Time, first posted on August 28, 2018, is provided by Pastor Peter Yoon who is the lead pastor of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Where to Find God’s Best Work” 

Jeremiah 33:10-13 (NIV)

“This is what the Lord says: ‘You say about this place, “It is a desolate waste, without people or animals.” Yet in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted, inhabited by neither people nor animals, there will be heard once more ¹¹ the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord, saying, “Give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good; his love endures forever.” For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,’ says the Lord. ¹² “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In this place, desolate and without people or animals—in all its towns there will again be pastures for shepherds to rest their flocks. ¹³ In the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev, in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem and in the towns of Judah, flocks will again pass under the hand of the one who counts them,’ says the Lord.

In the widely used Experiencing God booklet, the author reminds us of the first spiritual principle in order to live a God-centered life as opposed to a self-centered one: God is always at work around you. And as God works around us, He then invites us to join Him in His work. Naturally, the question rises, “If God is always at work, just where around us is He working right now?” This section of Jeremiah provides us with a clue in how to discover God’s work—one of His best work. 

Jeremiah had been placed in confinement in the courtyard of King Zedekiah, because he had been delivering unbearable news that Israel would fall at the hands of the Babylonians. (It was bad enough that Jerusalem was under a siege; the last thing the people needed to hear was the bad news confirming what was inevitable.) But during Jeremiah’s confinement, God comes to bring some hopeful news. He foretells Jeremiah that one day (about 70 years from the fall of Jerusalem), these streets that are “deserted, inhabited, and desolate” will once again hear “sounds of joy and gladness.” Eventually, shepherds will lead their flock in pastures to rest their flocks. These are words filled with renewal and hope, as a city that is dead will one day come to enjoy life. 

Life has a way of inviting enough challenges and difficulties that can eventually lead to despair and sometimes even depression. At this stage, we can feel totally alone; not only that, but we can be so tired, that we are tired of being tired. There seems to be absolutely no way that anything will turn our lives around. It is safe to assume that the people of Israel probably felt that they had seen the last days of their once glorious city. 

Yet, this is precisely the place where God does His best work—that is, taking what is dead and giving it life. God does His best work when there seems to be no humanly possible solution. 

Are you trying to figure out where God is at work around you? Perhaps you can start by looking for people who may have hit rock-bottom, ministries that seem to have hit a dead-end, or circumstances that are beyond human effort and wisdom. Ask God what He’s doing in those situations, and you might hear God share His plans to rebuild and renew. He just might invite you to join Him as well. 

Prayer: Lord, show me where You are working around me. Instead of judging others who are struggling or looking at situations with pessimism, help me to see what You might be doing? In Jesus’ Name.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 16

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Lunch Break Study

Read John 11: 38 – 44 (NIV): Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Questions to Consider

• What does Martha’s response to Jesus’ request to take away the stone reveal about her belief? 
• Think about the “they” who took away the stone. What does this action reveal about these unnamed people? 
• As Jesus prays to the Father, what “benefit” is Jesus hoping that others might receive? 

Notes

• Martha notes that Lazarus had been dead for “four” days. In popular Jewish belief the human spirit hovered near the body for three days, then departed as the color of the corpse began to change. Normally death would be irrevocable and all hope abandoned for one buried four days (Ecclesiastes Rabbah 12:6; Leviticus Rabbah 18:1). 
• Whether or not they had faith, “they” did as Jesus instructed. 
• The benefit is for those who hear Jesus’ prayer to believe in Jesus. 

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Evening Reflection

Spend some time praying for someone who might be going through an impossible situation. Ask God to do His best work in that person’s life.  

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on August 13 2018, is provided by Pastor Barry Kang, who heads Symphony Church in Boston.  Barry is a graduate of Stanford University (B.S.), Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and Gordon Conwell Seminary (D.Min.).

Devotional Thought For This Morning

“Are You Living Like a Renter or an Owner?”

Jeremiah 29:1-6

These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders of the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 This was after King Jeconiah and the queen mother, the eunuchs, the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metal workers had departed from Jerusalem. 3 The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. It said: 4 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease.

Do you currently rent or own your home?  Does it matter?  Of course!  No matter how considerate and responsible you may be, you probably won’t care as much about your home as you would if you owned it.  Here’s the thing: whether we own or rent, spiritually speaking, all of us are actually exiles in a foreign land (1 Peter 2:11). We live here, but this isn’t truly our home—which naturally leads to the question: if this is all temporary, why should we care about where we live?  

To the exiles in Babylon who were yearning to return home, God is about to give some extraordinary instructions: build houses and live in them—in other words, don’t rent, but buy.  Make an investment! Plant gardens and eat their fruits. Marry and have sons and daughters, that they may have children too. Stick around in one place for a while. Perhaps you might wait to see your children to grow up and have grandchildren. You may recall in Genesis 1, God created humanity with a purpose—to be fruitful and multiply.  

While the world we live in is temporary, God does not want us to consider it to be disposable.  Rather than escaping to heaven, our goal is to invest in such a way that the kingdom of heaven comes to earth.  So here’s the question:  how are you investing?

Prayer: Lord, we know that we are spiritual exiles, and that this world is not our true home.  At the same time, we want to see Your kingdom come to earth.  Help me to know how to invest in Your kingdom, to store my treasures in heaven.  Give me eyes to see how I can use my resources for Your purposes.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 15

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Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 14:25-33: 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

• What is Jesus asking of the crowd?
• What two examples/illustrations does He use?  What is the point? 
• Have you counted the cost of following Jesus?  What is He asking you to surrender?

Notes

• Jesus is asking that the crowd be willing to sacrifice everything they have in order to follow Jesus.
• The two examples Jesus uses here are: (1) someone who began building a tower before calculating if they had the resources to complete it; and (2) a king who surveys whether he can actually win a battle before fighting it.  Jesus’ point is that the crowd needs to know whether they are able to pay the cost of following Jesus before they actually do so.
• Please pray and supply your own answer.  

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Evening Reflection 

While we are spiritual exiles in the land, we are still ordered to care and invest in those around us.  Spend some time reflecting and journaling upon the ways that the Lord is asking you to invest for His Kingdom.  

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on November 19, 2017, is provided by Jennifer Kim. Jennifer, at the time, was serving at the Church of Southland, Anaheim, California.   

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“True Devotion”

Matthew 6:25-33

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to 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, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clotheyou? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Acts 2:42

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

About two weeks ago, the LA Dodgers competed against the Houston Astros in the 2017 MLB World Series.  Of course, living in Southern California, this was a big deal and would frequently be the main topic of conversation among my friends.  These two teams rivaled against each other in a long 7-game stretch—ultimately leading to the Astro’s first championship title in its franchise history. I am not much of a baseball fan (so there is no bias here), but I would have to say that for the Astros, winning the World Series was quite a notable accomplishment despite their many years of losses and setbacks.

But more than the games themselves, it has always been interesting watching… the fans.  I remember on the day of the final game, I ventured to buy some snacks; so I dropped by the grocery store only to find it completely empty and desolate.  There was no one there.  As I continued to watch the games unfold, the fans were ready.  The cheering and the screaming enthusiasm, all the matching sports paraphernalia, the occasional rioting, the air of pride that the fans hold and display for their beloved teams.  In the midst of all the pandemonium, you can’t help but notice their devotion.  

We are not unfamiliar with this.  Whether it is our loved ones, career, dreams/passions, or even certain social causes, we are all devoted to something or someone.  It is easy to identify what we are devoted to by simply looking at how we spend the bulk of our time, energy, and our resources.  Andy Stanley, the senior pastor of North Point Community Church says, “The things that we worry about reflect our core devotions.”  In other words, we worry about the things we really care about.  These are the things that probably fill our minds throughout the day.  However, many times these are good things in our lives, but it is only when they become the main thing at the expense of our devotion to God, our foundation becomes unstable.  Our culture is becoming increasingly inundated with information that has little or no bearing in our spiritual life.  The Enemy so wants us to become distracted and disengaged with the purposes of God.  But in Acts 2:42 above, we see the apostles continuously devoting themselves to the Word, prayer, and fellowship with the saints.

The real question for us this morning is… What are we really devoted to?  Is it God or something else?  If He isn’t, may this be a fresh reminder for us to re-align our devotion to God and acknowledge Him before anything else today.  Like the apostles, let us be greedy for the things of the Lord!  Let us center our lives on God and build our foundation on the things that will not fade away.

Prayer: God, I confess that all things come from You and through You.  Thank You for being the true source of everything that I need.  Help me not to be distracted by the things of the world, but to set my eyes on You alone.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 14

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, which was first posted on November 18, 2017, is provided by a writer who wants to remain anonymous. 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“A Legacy full of Mistakes Testifying of God’s Faithfulness”

Romans 4-18-22 (ESV)

In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promises of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.

A person’s legacy can be understood as the way people will remember that person after he or she has passed. It is the way the general public thinks about a person and his or her life, in retrospect. Many times, the way the public remembers someone is different from the way the public received the same person while he or she was alive. Consider how Vincent Van Gogh was only able to sell one piece of artwork in his lifetime, but he is now one of the most widely known artists of all time. The way biographers write about Van Gogh greatly differs from the way his peers talked about him (or rather, didn’t talk about him at all).

In the book of Genesis, God promises Abraham and Sarah a direct heir, or a son, and that eventually their descendants would as numerous as the stars in the sky. If we follow along in Abraham and Sarah’s faith journey, we read that they struggled to trust in that promise. When Sarah becomes of old age, she gives up on the idea of a direct heir and gives her Egyptian servant, Hagar, to Abraham to obtain children on Sarah’s behalf. During Abraham and Sarah’s lifetime, it would’ve been hard to believe that anyone would characterize them as particularly strong in faith. 

In our passage today, Paul leaves us with a personal legacy of Abraham. However, the way Paul writes about Abraham’s faith journey seems different than what we would expect. He writes that “no unbelief made him waver considering the promises of God,” but instead, Abraham “grew strong in his faith.” In light of the Hagar incident, what does Paul mean that they did not waver, but grew stronger in faith? 

What this passage teaches me is that God is gracious to our spiritual missteps and failures, and that He is mindful of our journey. There are consequences to Abraham and Sarah’s decision, but we read that God still chose to remind them of His promise, continue to walk with them, and eventually give them Isaac, at the right time. Abraham and Sarah’s mistakes and shortcomings do not become their legacies. Instead, they become the definitive moments in which they were being refined and strengthened in faith and opportunities to testify in God’s faithfulness. Likewise, our own shortcomings do not have to define us and our futures. Instead, God can use them. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that You don’t hold us to our worst. Instead, You are gracious to walk with us at our worst and use it to strengthen our faith in You. Help us to remember how faithful You are and walk in this truth. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 12-13