REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional Spiritual, first posted on August 11, 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

“Thinking About the New Year (a Month Before)”

Jeremiah 31: 7-10

For thus says the Lord: ‘Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘O Lord, save Your people, the remnant of Israel!’ Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the ends of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and the one who labors with child, together; a great throng shall return there. They shall come with weeping, and with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, in a straight way in which they shall not stumble; for I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn. ‘Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him as a shepherd does his flock.’

There are various traditions around the world by which countries celebrate the ringing in of a new year. In China, people launch fireworks to drive away evil and celebrate the coming of a new time. In Australia, people have picnics and camp out on the beach on New Year’s Eve, and blow whistles, shake rattles, and press car horns to welcome a new year. Then, of course, in the US, we have our traditional ball dropping in NYC with a ball being slowly dropped down a pole a minute prior to midnight and people count-down to ring in a new year. These and many more other ways are traditions by which people around the world are recognizing and celebrating the faithful arriving of an expected promise—that is, a new start.

In Jeremiah 31:7 it says, “For thus says the Lord: ‘Sing with gladness for Jacob and shout among chief of the nations: proclaim, give praise, and say, “O Lord, save your people, the remnant of Israel!” The Lord welcomes the people of Israel to bear witness to God’s faithfulness to them as a nation with jubilant shouts. He promises them that His salvation and faithfulness will be made evident as they will be gathered together as one nation again; and they are to celebrate in advance as a declaration of what is coming. In a similar way, there are promises of God that are over your life that you can offer up thanksgiving and praises in advance, as a declaration of what is to come for you. It is fuel to your spirit and soul to consider what God has spoken in the Scriptures regarding all aspects of your life, including your direction of life, provisions, relationships, health, etc. These are promises that have been provided for you to boldly claim and take hold of.

The Lord has granted you answers and tokens of great hope in the Bible. You need only to expectantly celebrate them in advance, like the Israelites, and declare of every good thing that is coming to pass upon you. Your life will be evidence of God’s unrelenting faithfulness; so go ahead and thank Him in advance as a declaration of His goodness over you!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are so good and Your promises for me are real! You have promises to prosper me in every regard. Thank You for the great hope and anticipation that I can have regarding all areas of my concern, for Your faithfulness will be made evident to me. I celebrate my life that is completely in You! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Leviticus 11

Lunch Break Study

Read Lamentations 3:22-23: Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

Questions to Consider

1. What are the areas of your life that you need the Lord’s promises for?
2. How can you adjust your thinking patterns and words to affirm God’s biblical promises for you?
3. What is the greatest testimony that you have regarding God’s faithfulness towards you?

Notes

1. Write down areas of your life that you need breakthrough in. Search the Scriptures and find God’s promises for you in these areas. Write them down along the sides of each area. Pray these promises into those areas of your life; and because it is in God’s Word, it means it is His will for you, so you can pray with expectancy.
2. In order to declare God’s promises over your life, you will need to adjust your thinking and speech according to what has been spoken for you in the Bible. This is part of how you thank the Lord in advance, as well as declare them over your life to see them into fruition.
3. You have a history with God that is personal to you, which also reveals the personal ways of how God interacts with you. Take time to reflect on what He has already done for you, so that your faith can again be strengthened and activated.

Evening Reflection

We began the day challenged to declare and thank God in advance for His promises over all areas of your life. In the light of this challenge, how did you fare in gratitude and declaration?

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on November 26, 2018, 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.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Our Words Have Power”

James 3.1-7 (NASB)

Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.  2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. 3 Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. 4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. 7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. 8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 

One of the few TV shows I’ve seen in its entirety is an early 2000s political drama called The West Wing. As the name suggests, it is a show about the inner workings of the White House, in particular, the relationship between the President and his most trusted advisors. There is a particular episode where the staff is preparing for the State of the Union Address—this speech can make or break the political agenda of the president. Therefore, an incredible amount of preparation goes into writing this speech.

There’s a scene where the staff brings together a group of people where they “test” or “poll” particular words/phrases to see how they respond. Even the intonation of how these words are said are polled. And the results from this polling impacted what or how something was said in the State of the Union. This is the power of words. 

As we reflect through the book of James, we see that Scripture also testifies to the power of words. So powerful are the things that come out of our mouth that James goes as far as to say that it can defile the entire body or even set on fire the course of our life (v. 6). It is likened to a bit in the mouth of a horse or the small rudder of a boat—meaning, our words are able to steer the entire body. Especially for those of us who are in positions of leadership/teaching, we should use great caution in our speech.  

As a society, we have rejected (rightfully so) the age-old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” Yet, we also live in a society where anonymity of online profiles is part of our everyday interactions. Sarcasm and irony is the tone of our sense of humor; comments can be just as easily edited and they are typed. In such a climate, it is so easy for us to not consider every day the words that emerge from our mouths. How often do we consider that what we speak comes from the same place from which we bless our Lord and Father ? (v. 9)

Today and tomorrow, we’ll be reflecting on what James teaches us on the words that we speak. Perhaps it is a timely reminder for all of us to reconsider not only what we say but how we say things as ones who are seeking the righteousness of God (1:19-20). 

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, we praise You for You have the words of life. And we take this moment to pause and reflect upon the words that we speak—to ourselves and to those around us. We repent not only for the words that were spoken but for our lack of mindfulness of those words. Purify our hearts so that the words that overflow may reflect Your glory. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Leviticus 10

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Lunch Break Study

Read Proverbs 10: 11, 19, 21, 31-32: The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence . . .  19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent . . . 21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.
31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.

Questions to Consider

1. Proverbs are often structured into duplets—one in the positive, the other in the negative. Take a moment to weigh the two sides laid out in this proverb.
2. What are some themes you see throughout the proverb in relation to speech?
3. In what ways does this proverb speak to the way you use your speech?

Notes

1. v.11 righteous mouth gives life, wicked mouth covers wrong
   v.19 wisdom in restraining words, sin when words are many
   v.21 righteous mouth betters others, foolishness leads to destruction
   v.31 righteous mouth brings wisdom, perverse tongues leads to destruction
   v.32 righteous lips understands what is good, wicked mouth knows what is evil
2. General themes: those who are wise or have understanding are careful in how they use their words, which benefit not only themselves but those around them. Those who do not consider their words leads to destruction, perverseness, evil, and transgression.
3. Personal response. 

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Evening Reflection

You probably went throughout today speaking—whether verbally or through email/text—many words. Take a moment to pause and reflect on those words. Are they honoring to the Lord? Do they reflect the way of the wise or the perverse? Spend some time bringing your words and speech to the Lord; ask for His refinement. 

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Charles Choe who leads Tapestry Church in Los Angeles, was first posted on October 29, 2017.  Charles is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“God Watches You”

Genesis 16:12-16

He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” 13 She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” 14 That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered. 15 So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.

I pastor a church in Los Angeles, and we recently had the privilege of moving into a larger building just a couple months ago. But with a new and bigger building, we’ve come to see unexpected needs rise, including the need to install a vastly improved and expensive surveillance system to monitor the spacious structure. We are hoping to have it up and running soon, because we’ve already had a few things go missing. At those very moments, I wish I was able to see what happened or who may have taken it. 

Sometimes we forget that God sees and knows everything. He is not blind or unknowing; but if He was, I wonder how we would conduct ourselves. Would it make a difference in the way we talk or behave, especially those moments when no one is looking? Often when we don’t give too much thought to God, it’s because we fail to treat Him as God. So when Hagar has been mistreated and abused, she recognizes that God does see all (Genesis 16:13). 

Do you know that God sees you? It is one thing to know that He loves you and hears your prayers, but it is quite another to know that His eyes are upon you—He is watching you.  But don’t compare His eyes to a surveillance camera, as though He is spying on you to chastise you when you fail. No, the concept of God seeing us is a loving concept. He watches us because He is concerned about us and loves to see us, similar to a parent who loves to watch his children sleep and play. It gives God joy to see us go through life and learn about Him and interact with other people. And He also keeps His eyes on us to shield us from harm. 

God watches you. Why? Because God loves you. This is what Hagar knew about her God. So she is able to return to Abram and Sarai, and she is received back into the home where Abram does better to take responsibility for his actions. It’s knowing that God was with her that gave her the confidence to come back to the father of her child. 

Today, be certain that God has not abandoned you. He watches over you. He can even look into your heart and know things that you don’t even understand about yourself. Allow God to search your heart and let Him refine you from the inside out. Trust that you are not alone—He is with you when you are awake, and He is with you when you are asleep. Take comfort and lift up your eyes and meet the eyes of God in Christ Jesus. 

Prayer: God, help me to know that You are with me. You have not forsaken me. Even when I feel utterly alone and abandoned, You have not left me. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Leviticus 9

REPOST  Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend, first posted on November 4, 2017, 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.).  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend 

“Get Your Hopes Up!”

Genesis 18:16-21

When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. 17 Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? 18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” 20 Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”

 “Are you serious? Again?” was my response as I read that a 29-year old man named Sayfullo Siapov used a truck to plow through a lower Manhattan bike path this past Tuesday. I had the same response for all these senseless killings that have been happening in United States: from Charlottesville to Las Vegas and now New York (and before the ink is dry, another random violence took three lives in Colorado).  Considering this (and also the tragedy happening abroad, like the recent deadly attack in Somalia that took the lives of more than 400 people), I can’t help but feel a sense of hopelessness. Will things get better? The answer is yes!

In this passage, God and His angels leave for Sodom and Gomorrah because they are looking to judge the two cities. The author characterizes God in disbelief at how these cities can be so wicked: “Then the Lord said, ‘The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.’” From the story of Lot, we learn that God judges the two cities.

While this story is gruesome, it is a reminder for us that God is a God of justice. It may seem like wickedness is winning, but He does not leave any sin unpunished. Psalm 5:5 says, “The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong.”

More importantly, His wrath towards evil is all part of His process of restoring humanity back to perfection—a world without racism, hate, abuse, or extortion. Revelation 21:4 says, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Therefore, as His church, let’s stand in hope that God is in the process of removing all wickedness and restoring justice. 

Have you grown hopeless through the tragedies you hear on the news? Why do you feel hopeless? Take some time to read Revelation 21 to encourage yourself of God’s ultimate plan of restoring humanity to a new creation.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that You are in the business of restoration and transformation. While the media is constantly reporting tragic news, help me not to fall into apathy or hopelessness. You are a God who loves justice and You will one day restore this world. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Leviticus 7-8

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was first posted on November 16, 2018.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Radical Reconciliation”

Acts 11:19-20 (NRSV)

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews. 20 But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists [Greeks] also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus.

 “I think it is one of the tragedies of our nation, one of the shameful tragedies, that 11 o’clock on Sunday morning is one of the most segregated hours, if not the most segregated hour, in Christian Americas.” (Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Meet the Press, April 17, 1960). 

Nearly 60 years after they were first uttered, King’s words still ring true – Sunday morning is still a time when, if we look to our left and our right, we see people who look a lot like us.  

The same was true in the early church. While the Jews had pretty good reason for keeping to themselves (the surrounding culture was often hostile and Jewish religious tradition was strict and exclusive), when Jesus stepped on the scene, He turned all of that upside down. His disciples often found Him drawing close to people who were very different from Himself. And when the Holy Spirit filled the hearts of believers in the book of Acts, they were led, albeit begrudgingly, to table fellowship and covenant relationship with those outside their community. 

Why? Scripture tells us that when God first blessed Abraham and promised to build a great nation, God did so for the purpose of all the nations of the earth to be blessed through him (Genesis 12:3 & 22:18). God’s blessings were for sharing not for hoarding. But I think there is another reason. The power of the gospel can arguably be boiled down to one word: reconciliation (both with God and with one another). And God’s power to reconcile is often put most ostentatiously on display for an onlooking world in what I like to call, “only God” relationships. Those are the connections where it’s almost immediately obvious that ONLY GOD could have brought them together. And, as one who has partaken in an abnormally high number of “only God” relationships over the last ten years, I’d venture to say that they can also be, for the believer, some of the most rewarding. 

Now, it is true that minoritized communities in the US have so few culturally safe spaces and, as a result, church often serves as one of the few we do have. And the unique idiosyncrasies of various cultures should be expressed in our corporate worship. (Remember, God celebrates differences!) But the mission of God hasn’t changed. We are still called to the nations to bear God’s glory. And how honored is God if we will go to nations all around the world, but refuse to welcome and engage the nations that God has gathered around us at home? 

Prayer:  Gracious God, thank You for the reconciliation You made possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Help me to live into the fullness of all that reconciliation affords. Open my eyes to see the people You’ve placed in the community around me today, and help me begin to dream of what it would mean to enjoy deep and meaningful fellowship with them. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Leviticus 6

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Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 10:25-37 (NIV):On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[c]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[e] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Questions to Consider

Because this is such a familiar passage, let’s “study” it a little differently. Before we answer each question below, read the passage and place yourself within the story as one of the characters. 

1. Read through Jesus’ story and imagine yourself as the priest, then as the Levite. What are some reasons each one may have crossed over to the other side? If Jesus were telling this story today, who would these characters be? What would it look like for them to “cross over to the other side” today? 
2. Read the story again and imagine yourself as the Samaritan. Why did he stop to help the man? What can we learn from this? Imagine Jesus telling this story today. What would it mean for someone to show this extent of kindness to a person in need? 
3. Finally, read this story one more time, imagining yourself as the wounded person.  How would you have felt in his situation? How would you feel as both the priest and the Levite pass you by? What would it mean for you to be welcomed and cared for by the Samaritan after all you’d been through? Who are the people in your life who’ve been a good neighbor in your time of need?
4. Who do you most identify with in this story? Remember the gospel – that we were wounded and needy when Jesus came to our aid – should help us to empathize and identify with the wounded traveler. How does remembering your need help to cultivate mercy in your heart toward others?

Notes

1. The priest was the one responsible for mediating between God and the people of God. The priest was literally a professional care-giver and servant-leader for the people before God. If anyone should have helped, the priest should have. The Levite “was a less likely person to offer help since his duty, assuming he fulfilled it, involved just assisting the priests in the mundane affairs involved in worship.” (Constable) While not the priest, the Levite is the next best thing and certainly should have stopped to help the wounded victim.
2. The Samaritan is the only person that helped. We don’t know where he is coming from or where he is going. We also don’t know much about his social status or family background or what kind of resources he had (other than the fact that he had two denarii). All we know is that he has resources of some kind, and he is willing to leverage them to help a person who needs it. And we can speculate about why the priest and the Levite didn’t stop, but the only reason Jesus says this man stopped was “because he had mercy” (not because he was rich, not because he was holy, not because it was the right thing to do). 
3. We know nothing about the person who was wounded. All we know is that this person was on a journey and violently attacked, wounded and robbed. We don’t know if he was a nice person, if he was responsible, if did anything to contribute to his scuffle with the bandits, etc. We just know he is hurting and in need. 
4. Personal reflection. 

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Evening Reflection

One of my favorite theologians, Dr. Willie Jennings, often says that in the book of Acts you always find the Holy Spirit leading believers to people they don’t desire and to places they don’t want to go. He also explains that one huge problem in the Christian imagination is that for hundreds of years we’ve forgotten that we are the ones God included. The Jews were the chosen people with their own community and the Gentiles were outsiders. But God cared enough about us to push the Jewish believers outside their comfort zones so that we could hear the Good News and be saved. 

Spend time this evening reflecting on the sentiments above. What does it mean for you that you are a person who was included? Who are the people or people groups in your life and community who are “outsiders” (for you and/or your church community)? What would it look like for them to be included into your life? What would it mean for you to be a neighbor to them? What, if anything, is keeping you from living out the radical reconciliation of the gospel in these relationships?

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on Septemberr 27, 2018, is provided by Jabez Yeo. Jabez served in Remnant Church in Manhattan for many years.   

Devotional Thought for Today

“Nations Rise and Fall”

Jeremiah 49:23-39

“Concerning Damascus: “Hamath and Arpad are dismayed, for they have heard bad news. They are disheartened, troubled like[d] the restless sea. Damascus has become feeble, she has turned to flee and panic has gripped her anguish and pain have seized her, pain like that of a woman in labor. Why has the city of renown not been abandoned, the town in which I delight? Surely, her young men will fall in the streets; all her soldiers will be silenced in that day,” declares the Lord Almighty. “I will set fire to the walls of Damascus; it will consume the fortresses of Ben-Hadad.”

Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked: This is what the Lord says: “Arise, and attack Kedar and destroy the people of the East. Their tents and their flocks will be taken; their shelters will be carried off with all their goods and camels. People will shout to them, ‘Terror on every side!’ “Flee quickly away! Stay in deep caves, you who live in Hazor,” declares the Lord. “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has plotted against you; he has devised a plan against you.

“Arise and attack a nation at ease, which lives in confidence,” declares the Lord, “a nation that has neither gates nor bars; its people live far from danger. Their camels will become plunder, and their large herds will be spoils of war. I will scatter to the winds those who are in distant places and will bring disaster on them from every side,” declares the Lord. “Hazor will become a haunt of jackals, a desolate place forever. No one will live there; no people will dwell in it.”

This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, early in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah: This is what the Lord Almighty says: “See, I will break the bow of Elam, the mainstay of their might. I will bring against Elam the four winds from the four quarters of heaven; I will scatter them to the four winds, and there will not be a nation where Elam’s exiles do not go. I will shatter Elam before their foes, before those who want to kill them; I will bring disaster on them, even my fierce anger,” declares the Lord. “I will pursue them with the sword until I have made an end of them. I will set my throne in Elam and destroy her king and officials,” declares the Lord. “Yet I will restore the fortunes of Elam in days to come,” declares the Lord.

One of my favorite hobbies is playing board games but one game that I have never finished is Risk. In Risk, each player controls an army inhabiting certain territories and aims to be the last army standing occupying every territory. Battles between players are determined by dice rolls and alliances may form or break throughout the game. What frustrates me about Risk is that it requires several hours to finish, due to the inevitable victories and defeats one endures throughout the game.

Despite my feelings about Risk, it accurately exhibits the truth that nations rise and fall throughout human history. In Jeremiah 49:23-39, we witness prophecies against the people of Damascus, Kedar, Hazor and Elam. In regards to Damascus, Jeremiah prophesies that the nearby cities of Harmath and Arpad will be dismayed at their impending destruction (Jer. 49:23-27). This is significant, as other Bible verses mention these cities as places of idol worship (Isa. 36:19, 2 Kings 18:34). Ultimately, as described in other Old Testament books such as Daniel, these cities were conquered by the Assyrians, Babylonians and Persians as part of God’s sovereign plan.  

While not much is known about Kedar and Hazor, we do know that Elam was an ancient kingdom that fought against Abraham (Gen. 14). As a nation who trusted in the bow (Isa. 22:6), God specifically promised that He “will break the bow of Elam, the mainstay of their might” (Jer. 49:35). However, God also promised that “He will restore the fortunes of Elam in days to come” (Jer. 49:39); and this promise was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, as the Elamites are mentioned among the many people present when the Holy Spirit entered the human heart for the first time (Rom. 5:5; Jn. 7:39).

Throughout history, nations have trusted in their military might for their significance and security. However, the Israelites declared that “some trust in chariots and some in horses but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7). As changes occur in our lives and the world around us, who are we ultimately putting our trust in? It would be very wise to put our trust in eternal God.

Prayer: Father, it is so easy to trust in my abilities or in my desire to work hard. Help me to remember that all human efforts apart from You will eventually fail. Help me to trust in You and Your sovereignty and work out of my dependence on You. In Your Name I pray, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Leviticus 5

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Lunch Break Study

Read Daniel 2:36-47: (Daniel says to King Nebuchadnezzar who just had a very strange dream) “This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king. 37 Your Majesty, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; 38 in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold. 39 “After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. 40 Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. 41 Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. 42 As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay. 44 “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. 45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. “The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.” 46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. 47 The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”

Questions to Consider

1. How is God’s sovereignty emphasized in Daniel’s actions?
2. How is God’s sovereignty revealed in King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream?
3. How is God’s sovereignty reflected in your life today?

Note

1. Throughout his explanation of the dream, Daniel emphasizes that it is God who reveals mysteries (v.28), not him.
2. Many scholars believe that the first four kingdoms in the dream are the empires of Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome. However, the only kingdom that will remain in the end is the kingdom of God. 
3. Personal response

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Evening Reflection

It may be second nature for us to forget God in crises big or small. Were there times today when you relied on yourself or others instead of God? Ask that God would help build in you a spirit of dependence on Him. 

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on April 11, 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

“The Wrong Way”

Mark 10:17-31

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”  Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.  Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is[b]to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

In ancient China, there was a nobleman who rode in a fancy coach on a long journey. On the way, he stopped by and asked a farmer how long it would take for him to reach his destination. The farmer told the nobleman, “You’re going the wrong way! It’s in the opposite direction!” 

The nobleman laughed and said, “Don’t worry, my horse is strong.” Then the farmer responded, “You may have a strong horse, but you are heading in the wrong direction!” The nobleman dismissed the farmer’s concern. “It’ll be fine; my coach can run very fast!” Finally, the farmer told him, “The stronger your horse is, and the faster your coach can go, the further it is going to take you from your destination.”

Like this nobleman in that story, the man who came to Jesus totally misunderstands the way to inherit eternal life. The young man thought that if he obeys the law, does good deeds, completes enough achievements, then his series of performances can bring him eternal life. But Jesus tells the young man two unexpected things that he must do to inherit eternal life: First, he is to sell all that he has and give these proceeds to the poor, and next, to follow Jesus. This means he need to give up all of his treasures, to surrender these things which held the young man so strongly, and totally, completely, utterly submit to Jesus. That is the very key to inherit eternal life, which seems to be an impossible standard that no man can achieve. But meanwhile, Jesus also points out that it is only through God that we can achieve eternal life. 

As believers who are good at following a bunch of rules, sometimes we are like those who think that through our achievements, laws or performances, we gain the right to inherit eternal life. But, actually, the more we live our Christian faith with this way of thinking, the more we will disown our inheritance of eternal life. Jesus gives us the only right way to do this—that is, as we come to recognize what Jesus did on the cross and rely on Him 100%, then we can truly be humble before the Lord and accept the fullness of His grace.

Prayer: Dear Lord, please humble our hearts and open our eyes so that we can truly understand what You have done for us. It has nothing to do with what we have done, but what You had done on the cross. As believers, we do what we do only because we want to truly know You and build a relationship with You. We want to honor You and glorify You. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen!

Bible Reading for Today: Leviticus 4

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Lunch Break Study  

Read Colossians 1:15-23: The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of[g] your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Questions to Consider 

1. According to Paul, in whom do we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins?

2. In verses 15-18, how does Paul describe Jesus?

3. How does a clear picture of our redemption and the identity of Jesus will help you to better understand the relationship between you and God? 

Notes

1. Jesus, the Son of God who died on the cross for our sins and shows us the love of God. Any attempt to have redemption and the forgiveness of sins without the work on the Cross fails.

2.Jesus is the image of God and the firstborn; all things were created by Him and for Him, and He has the supremacy in everything.

3. Everything is made for God and by Him, so it is our desire to bring glory to Jesus through anything we do. God is not our servant, but we are His to do His will and thereafter share in His glory. 

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Evening Reflection

As believers, we easily fall into relying on our own righteousness rather than the grace of God. In our daily life, we do things that give glory to ourselves rather than give glory to God. Let us take some time to think how we can truly give glory to God though our daily life. If there is anything that can make us self-righteousness, we should repent before the Lord and ask the Holy Spirit to help us, so we can have a better understanding of what God want us to be rather than what we want to be.

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on March 13, 2018, is provided by Mei Lan Thallman. Mei Lan previously served at Grace Covenant Church in Philadelphia for many years.

Devotional Thought for This Moring

“Test of Leadership”

1 Samuel 15:17-26  

Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel. 18 And he sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; wage war against them until you have wiped them out.’ 19 Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord?” 20 “But I did obey the Lord,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. 21 The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” 22 But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.” 24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them. 25 Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord.” 26 But Samuel said to him, “I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you as king over Israel!”

One challenge of teenage parenting is how to handle selective hearing and obedience.  When I ask my teenagers to put their iPhones away, they usually respond with selective hearing— meaning, they act like they do not hear me. 

In today’s text, we see that God chose Saul to be the king over Israel. Saul rose to kingship overnight from a nobody to the first king in Israel’s history. The limelight of kingship soon revealed many flaws in his character.  Essentially, the core of his character failed under the pressure of leadership. The most important test of Saul’s leadership was his obedience to God’s instructions. In 1 Sam, 13:8-12, when Samuel showed up later than expected, Saul gave in to circumstantial and people pressure and took matters into his own hands to perform a priestly job that was outside of his responsibility as a king.  In 1 Sam. 15:17-26, he disobeyed God’s instructions again and attempted to justify his selective obedience to the prophet. Through his examples, we see that partial obedience in God’s eyes equals disobedience. Therefore, God could not trust Saul to carry out His will for the nation of Israel, and God was grieved that He appointed Saul to be King (1 Sam. 15:35). 

Our obedience matters a great deal to God. Do we trust Him enough to obey Him at the risk of losing face, reputation, or popularity?  Many of us dream about doing great things for the Lord; but the fulfillment of that dream begins with where we are now in our home, school, work, and church. Are we dependable and trustworthy to diligently and responsibly carry out the tasks that are entrusted under our care?  If not, how can God entrust us with bigger responsibilities?

We must set our mind to please God over pleasing people. In both instances stated above, Saul heard and understood God’s instructions to wait for Samuel and destroy all of the enemy, including their livestock. Instead of leading the Israelite army to please God by their total obedience, he succumbed to the pressure of pleasing his soldiers over God.    

May we learn from Saul’s example and tune our ears to hear God’s word and train our heart to respond in total obedience in all circumstances. Small acts of obedience build our character and get us ready for bigger tasks requiring more obedience. 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, please forgive me for grieving Your heart by my selective hearing and partial obedience.  When Your Spirit prompts me to forgive, go out of my way to serve, or be the first to apologize, help me to quickly respond and obey.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Leviticus 3

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Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 3:7-9: Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness,
9 where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years.”

Questions to Consider

1. What does it mean to harden our hearts toward God’s voice?

2. How does disobedience lead to unbelief and rebellion?

3. Has the Lord been saying something in your heart that you need to heed to, but you 

haven’t responded? Today is always the best time to comply.  

Note

1. Though this can happen in several ways, one of them is by not abiding by what is clearly commanded in Scripture, because doing so will cut in on your profit and/or fun.
2. Disobeying God today makes disobeying God tomorrow that much easier. Proverbs 29:1 says (NIV), “A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.” Each time a person rejects God’s call for repentance, his or her heart gets hardened, which eventually would prompt God’s discipline (Heb. 12:5-11).
3. Personal response.  

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Evening Reflection

Lord, please reveal to me specific areas of my life where I have compartmentalized hearing the truth.   In what ways have I been hardening my heart by refusing to do what I know is the right thing to do?

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on May 14, 2016, 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

“When Spiritual Leaders Fall”

Jeremiah 3:6-10

The Lord said to me in the days of King Josiah: “Have you seen what she did, that faithless one, Israel, how she went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and there played the whore? 7 And I thought, ‘After she has done all this she will return to me,’ but she did not return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw it.8 She saw that for all the adulteries of that faithless one, Israel, I had sent her away with a decree of divorce. Yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but she too went and played the whore. 9 Because she took her whoredom lightly, she polluted the land, committing adultery with stone and tree. 10 Yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah did not return to me with her whole heart, but in pretense, declares the Lord.”

“We are sorry. Initially it was stated that the stories were all lies and the individuals were colluding against Bill… We do not believe the stories were all lies or that all the people were colluding against him… We believe at least some of Bill’s choices were inappropriate.” – Willow Creek Community Church Elders, May 9, 2018

https://www.willowcreek.org/en/elder-update-two

Recently, the evangelical world was rocked with the news that several women came forth with allegations of misconduct against Bill Hybels, senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church, a megachurch in the suburbs of Chicago. If you’ve been in the Christian world for a while you’ve probably heard of Hybels. He is a prolific author, charismatic leader, and through his church and the Willow Creek Association that he founded, he’s touched countless churches and lives. I’ve even flown out to Chicago to attend a conference at his church in the past. He was admired as a pillar in the evangelical community.

Hybels made the news, but truth is, you don’t have to be a megachurch celebrity pastor to fall. Chances are, you probably know someone- maybe even a leader in a local church- who fell into moral failure. What do we do when this happens? There are a few options: (1) Bury our heads in the sand and pretend it didn’t happen, (2) despair, or (3) believe that it could never happen to us. None of these options are good. Today’s passage from Jeremiah presents a fourth choice: Take heed and learn from it. When the northern kingdom of Israel was destroyed for her infidelity, Judah was supposed to take notice- but she didn’t. It says that she “saw it” yet “she too went and played the whore.” Israel’s demise should have been a powerful warning to Judah- powerful enough to correct her course- yet she just brushed the whole thing off and ended up worse than her sister.

It has been said that negative circumstances can be a more powerful teacher than positive ones. Whether from a celebrity pastor whose moral failure makes the news or from an acquaintance or friend who walks down the wrong path- we should learn from the experiences of those around us. Ask yourself, “What can I do to make sure that I don’t end up going down the same path? Is there anything in my life that needs to change?” None of us are beyond temptation.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to consider well the end of the paths those around me have taken. If there is anything or anyone that I need to pay more attention to, please get my attention. Grant me not a spirit of judgment upon those who have failed, but rather grant me a heart of fear and humility, that I may walk in holiness before you. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Leviticus 2

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Lunch Break Study  

Read 1 Corinthians 10:6-13: Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Questions to Consider

1. What example do you most need to learn from today?

2. Is there any area of your life where you might think you “stand” yet could be in danger of “falling”?

3. Since God always provides a “way of escape,” what ways might He have provided for you?

Notes

1. Idolatry? Sexual immorality? Testing God? Grumbling?

2. Remember, “Pride comes before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).

3. If you want to overcome temptation, God has made it possible for you to. Consider getting help from Christian brothers and sisters around you. Open up and share about your struggles.

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Evening Reflection

What did you observe from those around you today? Take a moment to consider the paths of those around you and let it strengthen your resolve to walk in holiness.

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was first posted on September 24, 2017.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Friend Of God”

Genesis 6:13, 17-19a

Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth.

17 Behold, I, even I am bringing the flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall perish. 18 But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you;

John 15:13-16

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.14 You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.16 You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.

Who are your favorite famous friends? Batman and Robin? Bonnie and Clyde (for the dangerous among us)? David and Jonathan (for the extra holy among us)? Woody & Buzz? (“You’ve got a friend in me!”)

Friendship is a precious thing. Thirteenth-century theologian Thomas Aquinas once said, “There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.” The Bible affirms this and is full of proverbs about it. I’m sure you could easily bring to mind the special people you call friend and the things that make that friendship delightful.  

In Genesis 6, we see that God and Noah were friends. How do we know this? Because God shared His heart with Noah (a broken heart in Gen. 6) and even shared what He was up to (bringing a flood – Gen. 6:17). Many generations later God would come even closer in the person of Jesus and the disciples would enjoy friendship with God as well. And later still, Jesus would extend that friendship to all who would receive it through the Holy Spirit living within them. Of all the things we are privileged to call God – parent, savior, shepherd, teacher – I find it special that God also chooses us as friends. In God, we find the greatest friend imaginable (beyond what we can imagine, even). 

I once read of a middle school teacher who asked her students to define friend. Their responses: “A friend is a pair of open arms in a society of armless people.” / “A friend is a warm bedroll on a cold and frosty night.” / “A friend is a mug of hot cocoa on a damp cloudy day.” / “A friend is a beautiful orchard in the middle of the desert.” / “A friend is a hot bath after you have walked 20 miles on a dusty road.” (Some pretty deep middle schoolers!)

Sometimes I find that I’m too busy and too self-absorbed to notice God’s gestures of friendship in my life. Maybe you can relate. But when I stop to remember, I know God is the greatest friend I’ve ever had. And I wonder too if those same traits keep us from being good friends to God in turn – sharing our heart and plans with Him, partnering with Him in His dreams – the way He does for us. Let us not forsake today the gift of friendship with God! And let us not only be partakers of God’s friendship, but may we also offer our friendship to Him as well.  

Prayer: God, You are my friend. That is an amazing truth. Thank You for choosing to share Your heart and Your life with me. Forgive me for the times I’ve not been a very good friend to You. Help me not to take our friendship for granted, but to offer You my time and affections, inviting You into all the parts of my life because that’s what friends do. Help me to experience the reality of friendship with You today.  In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Leviticus 1