REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on November 6, 2018, is provided 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/

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“God Hears Us”

Jeremiah 51:34-37

 “Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon has devoured me; he has crushed me; he has made me an empty vessel; he has swallowed me like a monster; he has filled his stomach with my delicacies; he has rinsed me out. The violence done to me and to my kinsmen be upon Babylon,” let the inhabitant of Zion say. “My blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea,” let Jerusalem say. Therefore thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will plead your cause and take vengeance for you. I will dry up her sea and make her fountain dry, and Babylon shall become a heap of ruins, the haunt of jackals, a horror and a hissing, without inhabitant.

As a brand new church planter, one of my personal struggles is—my constant need to be respected. People strive to find their sense of worth in different ways; so for me, my sense of worth is woefully intertwined with whether or not I feel respected by my congregation, my fellow pastors/missionaries, my wife, and those whom I look up to. For the past two months, I’ve spent hours stressfully evaluating and re-evaluating each and every sermon I’ve preached and Bible studies that I’ve led with the question: “Do people respect me? Perhaps I said that too harshly, or too passively; perhaps it was irrelevant and boring, or I sounded too self-centered… and so on.” It was getting to the point where I was losing sleep because of my constant obsession with re-evaluation—all in an effort to determine whether or not the few people in our church respected me. It started taking a toll on my body and my mental health, as well as my relationship with my family. When anxiety hits me like this, I often feel crushed, swallowed up, or rinsed out, much like the Israelites’ cry in our passage today. Of course they are speaking of destruction in a physical sense, but for many of us, the spiritual oppression that we experience is just as real of a defeat as this.

Deliverance came for me when I verbalized my defeat before God. Of all places, it happened in the shower—that’s become my one guaranteed place of solitude. I confessed to Him that my desire to be respected was eating me up, because that’s where I was seeking to find my worth. Almost as soon as the words left my mouth, it was as if the fog cleared, and I remembered the simple truth of the gospel: My worth is not based upon peoples’ opinion of me, but rather what God has spoken over me: that I am His child. That’s where my worth comes from!  I felt the burden and stress begin to melt away, and I walked out of that shower feeling more refreshed than ever. By the way, this wasn’t a new revelation. Of course I have heard this, known this, and even preached on being a child of God before. But it wasn’t until I confessed my brokenness before God that this gospel truth was able to touch and transform the inner parts of my being.

The book of Jeremiah has been a tough one so far, primarily because of all the talk about destruction and defeat. But if there’s one thing we can glean from today’s passage, it’s that when God’s people cry out to their God, He is faithful to listen and respond. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, crushed, swallowed up, let us cry out to our Lord.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that even when we feel swallowed up, You are still in control. And we thank You that You hear us and respond to us when we call. Help us to stand firm against the attacks of the enemy. But Lord, when we do fall, may we be quick to call out to You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 34

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Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 18:1-8: And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Questions to Consider

• In Jesus’ parable, why does the judge decide to give the widow what she asks for?
• According to the passage, why did Jesus tell this parable?
• What does this passage tell us about who our God is?

Notes

• In Jesus’ parable, He makes it doubly clear that this judge is not a believer in God, nor is he a people pleaser. Jesus is removing all other variables in order to make the point that persistence alone is enough to persuade a worldly judge into action.
• To encourage the listeners “to always pray and not lose heart.”
• The parable is not saying that God is like this worldly judge. The point is that even a worldly judge, despite his worldliness, would still be stirred by persistence. How much more, then, would our God, a God who is loving and just, respond to our persistent prayers? The answer is clear: “will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily.”

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Evening Reflection

Where do you find your sense of worth? It’s often difficult to answer this question honestly, because we don’t often think this way. But it’s an important question to wrestle with, because the thing you find your worth in actually has a lot of control over how you live. Spend some time tonight asking the Holy Spirit if there is any part of you that is seeking to find worth in something other than God.

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotionals, first posted on October 22, 2018, is provided by Pastor Paul Liu who pastors the Grace Covenant Church Singapore. He is a graduate of University of Illinois (BA) and Biblical Theological Seminary (M.Div.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“God Still Speaks”

Jeremiah 47:1

The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh struck down Gaza.

Parenting is hard work!  It’s hard because the devil is in the details—diapers, discipline, fashion, fairy tales—and almost every detail leaves a ripple that the eye cannot see.  That’s a big responsibility.  It’s almost unfair.  What parents do AND don’t do—all of this taking place under the weight of pressures both outside and in—matters.  Whether they realize it or not, parents are under the scrutiny of watchful eyes and listening ears.  All that to say: “Parents, your words are incredibly important.”  Words spoken in frustration and anger scar; words aimed to humiliate always do; and worst of all, words left unsaid leave an indelible void in the hearts of children who look to their parents for the building blocks of their personhood.  Words are powerful indeed.

Which is why the fact that God speaks is so fundamentally life-changing.  If words-left-unsaid can leave a hole in our hearts, how great would be the void if we imagine God to be silent—indifferent to our existence, disengaged from our lives, and uncompassionate toward our pains?  We would be cosmically insecure, helpless, and feeling like a small fish in danger of being swallowed by the sharks of life—that is, if God doesn’t speak—but, He does!

The context of today’s passage is international conflict involving several nations at odds.  The old enemy of God’s people, the Philistines, are about to be attacked by the Egyptians before they themselves are engulfed by the Babylonian Empire.  Philistia was a small fish compared to these empires of sharks. God’s people could relate: Judah was a speck in the dust compared to the Babylonian hoard (who would later conquer her).  The Judeans probably felt like everything was teetering out of control.  But in that moment, God saw fit to address their demise and identify His sovereignty amidst their uncertainty.  What others saw as chaos, God had under control.  And the fact that God speaks affirms this to us today:  You cannot be lost afloat when your God continues to call.  Jeremiah tells us all men and women are accountable to the God who created them—and He is NOT indifferent towards us.  He still speaks!

Before delving into the ancient conflicts of the Near East, ask yourself, “Am I making space for God to speak into my life?  When was the last time I heard from the Lord?  How am I responding to His words now?” 

Prayer: Dear Lord, increase the longing in my soul for Your voice.  Remind me that You are neither distant or disinterested—but rather passionate and persistent in Your purposes for me.   Speak O Lord, I want to hear… Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 33

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Lunch Break Study  

Read Isaiah 32:14-18: For the palace is forsaken, the populous city deserted; the hill and the watchtower will become dens forever, a joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks; 15 until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a forest. 16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. 17 And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust[a] forever. 18 My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

This passage describes the blessing that the Holy Spirit brings to God’s people – literally described as order out of chaos.  

Questions to Consider 

• What do forsaken castles and deserted cities represent to you?
• What difference does the Spirit being ‘poured upon us’ bring?
• How does the Spirit’s presence change our relationships?

Notes

• Castles represented protection and leadership, while cities represent prosperity and opportunity.  The absence of authority in a castle and people in a city is a picture of chaos.  It’s life out of order.  Life outside of God’s presence is similar.
• In contrast to a life in chaos, the Spirit bring life (fruitful field) and vitality (forest).  This is consistent with the Holy Spirit’s activity throughout history – active in creation & the agent of God’s new creation through Jesus (Titus 3:4-5).  
• Surprisingly the effects mentioned here are not merely personal.  The Spirit being ‘poured upon us’ results in justice and righteousness – literally fairness and uprightness.  It changes how we live and especially how we treat those around us.  If you say you have the Spirit, how are you treating the person in front of you?  

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Evening Reflection

One of the realities of living in a media-saturated world is that we automatically filter out ton of stimuli.  We cannot physically process every image and soundbite.  It would drive us crazy!  This makes it all the more important to prioritize the right voices.  Did you tune-into God’s frequency today?  What words from God did you receive?  How are you responding?    

REPOST  Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Doug Tritton, was first posted on October 8, 2017. A graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), Doug is the Lead Pastor of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia. 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“A Mighty Man … In the Eyes of God”

Genesis 10:8-12

Cush fathered Nimrod; he was the first on earth to be a mighty man. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord. Therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10 The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 From that land he went into Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah, and 12 Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city.

If the Bible names someone “mighty”, this is important to notice. Typically, God is the One described as mighty, the One who fights for His people like a mighty warrior. David also had his mighty men, the people whom he trusted above all else. But here, we have this person Nimrod described as a mighty man and a mighty hunter, even though he is in the lineage of Ham, the one who was cursed in the previous chapter. In fact, in this genealogy, the story of Nimrod stands out, since he gets a special shout-out, unlike anyone else listed in the genealogy.

But if you look closely at Nimrod’s story, it seems like his legacy isn’t necessarily going to be a good one. For one thing, Babel was in his kingdom, and we know what happens there. Also, it says that he went into Assyria and built some of its cities, including Nineveh. If you know the story of Jonah, you know this is a city that would not be well-liked by the Israelites. Yet still, Nimrod is called a mighty man. 

Yesterday, we talked about how the descendants of Noah have a heritage of righteousness and favor, and Nimrod was one of these descendants. Though the legacy of Nimrod, at Babel and in Assyria, won’t be good, he was still someone that was recorded for all time in the Bible as mighty. My encouragement for us is that we stay humble even as God may work through us, and not be given to pride when God does use us one of His mighty ones. Sometimes, the most unexpected people may be the mighty ones. And maybe even God will use us to be mighty for Him. May we strive to be mighty not in the eyes of the world, but in the eyes of God, that we may be called a mighty warrior for His kingdom. May we all be the mighty ones before the Lord, but, unlike Nimrod, leave a legacy of faithfulness to the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, we acknowledge that You are the true mighty One, for You are the One with strength and power. We confess that we are weak, but through You, may we be mighty for Your kingdom. May you use us to accomplish things that to the world may seem impossible. Yes, Lord, let us be mighty for You! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 32

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was first posted on September 23, 2017.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The Favor Of God”

Genesis 6:8-10 

Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. ⁶ The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved ^[in His heart. ⁷ The Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.”]  ⁸ But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. ⁹ These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God. ¹⁰ Noah became the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Favor is a fairly pedestrian idea in our culture today. We all probably use this word most often in the phrase, “Can you do me a favor?” when we ask another person to do something for us that they are not required or obligated to do and would only do out of the generosity and kindness of their heart. Well, there is nothing pedestrian or mundane about the favor of God! This idea in Scripture is loaded with significance. When a person finds favor in the eyes of the Lord, they are blessed beyond measure. Take a moment to think of the most significant person alive – whomever you’d give that title. What if you were their favorite person! And you had direct access to all their power, money, influence and connections – to all their significance! Wouldn’t that be amazing? 

I remember when I first became a Christian, I was convinced that I was God’s favorite child. There was just no other explanation for how good He was to me. God was always caring for me in such specific and personal ways that I was certain I consumed all His attention and affection. I remember reading the passage in Scripture that says God doesn’t show partiality or favoritism. I wasn’t so sure about that! I had experience after experience to suggest otherwise. Yet, the longer I walked with God, the more I understand that verse. God doesn’t have favorites because His favor is available to all who choose to enter into relationship with Him. There is enough favor to go around! 

What does it take for us to land ourselves in the favor of the Lord? In Genesis 6, we learn that in the midst of a wicked world, Noah found favor with God. Why? Because he walked with God (just like Enoch!). In walking with God Noah was able to live a righteous and blameless life even in wicked times. I think it’s easy to look at Noah and focus on what Noah did right – imagining that he is some sort of super saint who never sinned in the ways we do. The rest of the narrative of the life of Noah let’s us know that was not the case. Instead we should focus our attention on God. It was God who showed His favor toward Noah. It was God who chose Noah. All Noah had to do was turn to God, to walk with God. That’s something that we can do too! When we do, we receive the unmerited favor that God freely gives to us, and we find access to an even greater salvation than Noah found during his day – we find eternal salvation through Jesus Christ. 

Prayer: Gracious God, thank You for finding favor in me. Thank You for choosing to bless me and care for me as I walk with You. Help me today to remember that I am favored by the Almighty God of the Universe. May this truth bring me great hope and courage. In Jesus’ name. Amen.  

Bible Reading for Today: Job 30-31

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Christine Li, was first posted on August 3, 2018. Christine, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Finding the Right Audience”

Jeremiah 26:11-13 

Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man should be sentenced to death because he has prophesied against this city. You have heard it with your own ears!” 12 Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people: “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the things you have heard. 13 Now reform your ways and your actions and obey the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you.”

 My first job out of school had me working, on few occasions, with a doctor who was a devout Jew (he read the Torah and would mention aspects of Jewish faith). Once, I felt bold to ask him for his thoughts about Jesus, since he knew I was a Christian. Right after he shared and asked for my thoughts, we got interrupted. But, I chickened out and never brought it up again the remainder of the times I worked with him. It wasn’t just that I felt foolish or unequipped to handle a discussion of Judaism and Christianity – I knew what I believed. But, I didn’t want someone who was a superior at work to find it offensive if I told him that I believe Jesus is the Messiah and the fulfillment he was looking for. I realized that even though I was a leader at church and felt equipped on this topic, I was quite cowardly about faith in the workplace. I was not bold enough to speak the truth that I believed. 

In this passage, Jeremiah is sharing, for a second time, the message from the Lord. His first audience, the prophets, priests, and people, have been so put off by him that they have brought him before political officials. But even though his audience is one of greater power and authority, Jeremiah does not change his message but speaks exactly as he has been instructed. “Fear of man” has no sway on him here. 

Jeremiah was no longer afraid of man’s opinion because the One whose attention really mattered was the Lord’s. Jeremiah knows who he represents; God is so much more important than these officials, and it is more important to do what honors God rather than run back in the face of these officials. So, Jeremiah conducts himself as God has commanded him to. He has no fear of others’ opinions and judgments, for he values God’s opinion most when it came to what he would do or say. 

Today, we might come across a scenario where our fear of others’ opinions and judgments may sway us from being bold in the truth. Let’s ask God to remove from us the fear of man and give us a desire to honor Him first. Whether it be sharing about our faith or speaking firm truth into a friend’s life, let’s ask Him to help us speak, act, and conduct ourselves in the way that most pleases Him.

Prayer: Father, thank You that I have the honor to bear Your image and bring Your Spirit wherever I go. Help me not to be as mindful of others’ opinions or my reputation, but rather be mindful of how You want me to live and act. Free me from adjusting my actions or words even in a hostile environment, and increase my awareness that You are my ultimate audience. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 29

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Lunch Break Study

Read 1 John 4:1-6:Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

Questions to Consider

• Let’s think on this litmus test of recognizing the Spirit of God. Why is it important for us to acknowledge whether Jesus Christ has come in the flesh? 
• Why is it important for John to say, after recognizing whether a Spirit is from God, that the children of God have overcome?
• John says that some will listen but some will not—how can this be an encouragement to us?

Notes

• This statement captures a basic doctrine about God coming in the flesh—this opposes a heresy that questions Christ’s Incarnation. However, affirming that Christ came in the flesh is not just about knowing basic doctrine but also recognizing the life and work of Christ: He dwelled among us, died for our sins, was raised up to life, and has ascended into Heaven as our living hope. The Spirit of God will also always acknowledge His redemptive kingdom work. 
• The Spirit that is from God is the one of power—because God reigns over all the earth, He also overcomes Satan. Children of God partake in His victory over the world; therefore, they have nothing to fear as they live as witnesses.
• If we know that we are in-line with God’s Spirit and that those who belong to God will be drawn to a message of truth, we can feel free when sent out to evangelize and witness. The burden of outcome does not rest on our abilities to speak but rather rests wholly on His Spirit; we are just mouthpieces. Let’s let this truth free us up to boldly proclaim what we know to be true.
  

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Evening Reflection

Let’s think upon how we can demonstrate our life and faith to others. It may not be direct evangelism— it could be forgiveness, personal integrity, kindness, etc. Pray over it and ask God to help you to be His witness in a world that desperately needs Him.

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional QT, first posted on April 5, 2018, 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/

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Jesus the Occupational Therapist?”

Mark 7:32-35

And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.

There are several members of our church who study or work in the field of Occupational Therapy. From my limited understanding, the job of an occupational therapist (OT) is to evaluate a person’s physical/mental disability, and use individualized intervention strategies to help people do meaningful daily activities. For example, if someone has suffered a stroke and has lost motor control of their right arm, an OT would help this person figure out a strategy to rehabilitate their arm and/or help them relearn how to do their daily tasks such as typing, putting on clothes, eating, etc. What I found remarkable is that an OT’s work is extremely specific to the person(s) they are treating. In other words, their method of healing is constantly shifting, based on each individual and their specific situation/need. 

If Jesus hadn’t been a carpenter, He might have been an occupational therapist, because much like OT’s, Jesus seems to minister to each individual based on his or her specific situation/need! In our passage today, Jesus encounters a man who was unable to hear or speak. Jesus uses a very unique and interesting way to minister unto him: He sticks His fingers in the man’s ears, and after spitting, touches the man’s tongue. What’s with the strange methods? Well, Jesus is ministering to this man in a way that he can understand—through touch! 

Our God knows your exact situation. He intimately understands everything going on in your life! In fact, in many of the broken areas of our lives, only a touch from God can bring any kind of progress/breakthrough. Today, let us open our hearts and allow the Great Physician to touch us. 

Prayer: God, help us to understand even more the depth of Your love for us. We ask You to come and touch the areas of our hearts, minds, and bodies that need Your healing. Thank You that even though You are the King of kings, You love to love us. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 28

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Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 18:18-27: And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

Questions to Consider

• According to the passage, what hindered this man from following Jesus?
• What does Jesus require that this man do, in order to follow Him?
• What do you think Jesus means when He says, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

Notes

• This man was a real stand-up guy. He had obeyed all the commandments of the Lord from his youth! Yet, Jesus saw that there was still something in his heart that wasn’t fully surrendered: his wealth.
• Jesus commands the man to sell everything he has and distribute it to the poor. Then He explains that the man would have treasure in heaven. And then Jesus invites him to follow Him. But the man walks away sad. It seems that his earthly treasures were of more value to him than the heavenly ones.
• The point of this passage is not to say that money is inherently evil. But it is a warning of the difficulty of entering the kingdom of God when you have wealth. But the reality is… it’s difficult for ANYONE to enter the kingdom of God—impossible, in fact. Whether it’s wealth, addictions, pride, we all have idols in our hearts that we cannot escape from on our own. Jesus’ point is that salvation is ultimately made possible through God… not through the efforts of man. By this reasoning, none of us are worthy of the kingdom, but anyone can enter by trusting in God.

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Evening Reflection

Today, we discovered that our God ministers to us personally and intimately. Whether it’s an area that needs His healing touch, or an area that needs correction, our God knows exactly what we need in every season of our lives. Spend some time this evening reflecting on the ways that God might want to touch your life right now. 

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on September 26, 2018, is provided by Jabez Yeo. Jabez served in Remnant Church in Manhattan for many years.   

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Need for Repentance”

Jeremiah 49:7-22

“Concerning Edom. Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished? 8 Flee, turn back, dwell in the depths,
O inhabitants of Dedan! For I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time when I punish him. 9 If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings? If thieves came by night,
would they not destroy only enough for themselves? 10 But I have stripped Esau bare; I have uncovered his hiding places, and he is not able to conceal himself. His children are destroyed, and his brothers, and his neighbors; and he is no more. 11 Leave your fatherless children; I will keep them alive; and let your widows trust in me.” 12 For thus says the Lord: “If those who did not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, will you go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished, but you must drink. 13 For I have sworn by myself, declares the Lord, that Bozrah shall become a horror, a taunt, a waste, and a curse, and all her cities shall be perpetual wastes.” 14 I have heard a message from the Lord, and an envoy has been sent among the nations: “Gather yourselves together and come against her, and rise up for battle! 15 For behold, I will make you small among the nations, despised among mankind. 16 The horror you inspire has deceived you, and the pride of your heart, you who live in the clefts of the rock, who hold the height of the hill. Though you make your nest as high as the eagle’s, I will bring you down from there, declares the Lord. 17 “Edom shall become a horror. Everyone who passes by it will be horrified and will hiss because of all its disasters. 18 As when Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring cities were overthrown, says the Lord, no man shall dwell there, no man shall sojourn in her. 19 Behold, like a lion coming up from the jungle of the Jordan against a perennial pasture, I will suddenly make him[d] run away from her. And I will appoint over her whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who will summon me? What shepherd can stand before me? 20 Therefore hear the plan that the Lord has made against Edom and the purposes that he has formed against the inhabitants of Teman: Even the little ones of the flock shall be dragged away. Surely their fold shall be appalled at their fate. 21 At the sound of their fall the earth shall tremble; the sound of their cry shall be heard at the Red Sea. 22 Behold, one shall mount up and fly swiftly like an eagle and spread his wings against Bozrah, and the heart of the warriors of Edom shall be in that day like the heart of a woman in her birth pains.”

Although we live in a culture of instant gratification, some people’s short-sighted choices can still surprise us.  One such instance arose in The Matrix, which depicts humanity being enslaved to robots through living in a virtual world (i.e. the Matrix) resembling the 1990s. One free man, Cypher, desires to re-enter the Matrix and live in blissful ignorance. Thus, he betrays his fellow escapees over a virtual steak dinner, despite his acknowledgment that the dinner itself isn’t real.

A more foolish choice occurred in the Old Testament, when Esau forsook his birthright to Jacob over a single meal (Gen. 25:29-34). Esau eventually became the father of the Edomites (Gen. 36:1), a people who also made foolish decisions in their dealings with the Israelites. At the time of the Exodus, the Edomites refused to let the Israelites pass through their land (Num. 20:14-21) and later fought against King David and Solomon (2 Sam. 8:14, 1 Kings 11:14-25). According to Jeremiah, they even rejoiced in Jerusalem’s destruction by the Babylonians (Lam. 4:21).

Because of the Edomites’ constant rebellion, Jeremiah prophesied that the Lord will bring destruction on Esau (Jer. 49:8), that He would strip Esau bare (49:10) and that Edom would become an object of horror (49:17). Additionally, the Edomites were known for their stone city of Petra, an ancient military fortress, yet God declared in verse 16 that “you who live in the clefts of the rocks, who occupy the heights of the hill . . . though you build your nest as high as the eagle’s, from there I will bring you down”. This came to pass in the fifth century B.C., when the Nabateans defeated the Edomites and removed them from Petra. Consequently, the Edomites no longer exist as a people today. 

The story of Esau and the Edomites serve as a stark reminder of our need for continual repentance, as a point of no return does exist. In fact, Hebrews 12:17 declared that it was too late for Esau to repent despite his tears. No matter where we are, let’s repent before our hearts have become too hardened. 

Prayer: Father, you know how stubborn and proud I can be. Many times I refuse to admit I’m wrong, even to You. Help me develop the humility to turn away from my pride and turn to You and follow You. May my life be one of continual repentance. In Your Name I pray, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 27 

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Lunch Break Study 

Read James 4:1-10: What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people![c] Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Questions to Consider

1. What in this passage does James identify as the root of sin?

2. What in this passage does James identify as the antidote to sin?

3. What are the sins in your life that you have tried but cannot overcome without God’s strength? 

Note

1. James notes that there are selfish desires within us that manifests in coveting, fighting and even killing (v.1-3). Specifically, James describes us as adulterous people (v.4), implying that we turn to other people or things besides God to meet our needs.

2. In short, humility. We are told to submit ourselves to God (v.7), to come near to God (v.8), and to humble ourselves before God (v.10). 

3. Personal response

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Evening Reflection

Part of the process of repentance may involve making amends to those you have hurt. Are there people in your life that have been affected by your sin? Pray for wisdom and strength to take the next step to make things right. 

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on July 3, 2018, is written by Esther Chailim. Esther, who serves at Kairos Christian Church in San Diego, is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (MA).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Jesus in My Heart”

Jeremiah 17:7-8

But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.

I read a story online about a boy who was diagnosed with a severe heart defect, only having months to live.  His surgeon, a well-respected yet jaded heart specialist, told the boy, “I’m going to try to fix your heart, but when I open it up, I’m not sure what I will find.” To his surprise, the boy responded with a smile on his face, “Don’t worry, when you cut my heart open, you’ll find Jesus, because he lives there.”  Even after several attempts from the doctor to warn the boy of the dangers of his surgery, the boy continued to give the same response with a smile on his face.  

After the surgery, the doctor headed to the waiting room to give the horrible news to his parents that their son did not make it through the procedure.   The father, trying to figure out what happened, asked the doctor, “When you opened his heart, what did you find?”  The hardened, cynical old man gave the slightest of smiles and said, “I believe I found Jesus.” And for the first time in many years, tears streamed down his face. 

To be honest, I’m not sure whether this story is fictional or not, but I think it sends a powerful message of childlike faith.  On one end, we have the surgeon who was probably the most qualified person to administer the procedure. The boy’s parents and the hospital staff all put their trust in the physician to attempt to save the child.  Unfortunately, even the best of the best was unable to save the terminally ill child.   On the other end, we have the boy, who knew that even though the chances of him living were slim, had a sense of joy and peace within him.  The boy did not put his trust in the surgeon to save his life, but already knew that Christ has saved him. This, I believe, is why he did not worry and fear death when the doctor tried to warn him over and over again.  In Jeremiah 17:5-7, we see Jeremiah exhorting Judah (and us) not to trust in man, but to trust in the Lord.  This passage reminds us that putting our trust in the Lord will lead to a blessed life, one filled with confidence in Christ.  It may not make our lives better or easier, but putting our trust in the Lord allows us to look beyond the temporal things and hold fast to the eternal things.    

Prayer:  God, oftentimes when I am faced with a dilemma, I find that my initial reaction is to try to figure out a way to solve the problem.  Forgive me for first trusting in human resources and knowledge rather than seeking You for guidance.  Help me to daily surrender my life and plans to You and focus on the things that eternally matter.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 26

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Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 146:1-10: Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul. 2 I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. 3 Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. 4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. 5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. 6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— he remains faithful forever. 7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free,8 the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.9 The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. 10 The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord.

Questions to Consider

• What happens when we put our trusts in princes? 
• According to this passage, why should we put our trust in God? 
• How can we put our trust in the Lord? 

Notes

• In this world, we may have all the riches and receive recognition for the great amount of success like the princes do, but it all amounts to nothing when we pass.  Those things may give us temporary happiness, but it cannot give us life.  Jesus is the only one who can save us and give eternal life and joy!
• We can put our trust in God because he is the Creator of heaven and earth.  He has shown Himself to be faithful since the beginning of time.  He cares for the oppressed and marginalized. He sets prisoners free and gives sight to the blind. He brings justice to those who worship Him, watches over foreigners and sustains the outcast.  He defeats the wicked. 
• The psalmist starts and ends with giving praise to the Lord.  One of the ways that we can put our trust in the Lord is by intentionally choosing to give Him praise.  Even in difficult seasons, may we lift up our hands in surrender to Him, and position our hearts to allow Him to work through those circumstances.  

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Evening Reflection

Is there something in your life that has been weighing you down?  Do you find yourself placing trust in the wrong places or people?  Take some time now and take those things up to Jesus and ask the Holy Spirit to come and guide you in this process. 

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional is a reprint of Kate Moon’s blog originally posted on January 25, 2018.  Kate continues to serve the Lord in E. Asia. 

Devotional Thought for this Morning

“Who Are You Trying to Please?”

Genesis 39:6-9

So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.  Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” 8 But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”

Lorraine’s* co-worker, Marybelle, had a slightly independent and rebellious streak, and it was often getting them into trouble.  When Lorraine wasn’t sure about a decision they were making and thought they should run it by their manager, MB would say, “Why do we always have to tell him everything?”  When Lorraine wanted to work on a project a little more, MB would say, “It’s good enough.  Why do you always have to make everything so perfect?”  Afterwards, when her manager would call her into his office (= she’d done something wrong), Lorraine would find her initial instincts had been right.  Lorraine didn’t like getting into trouble, but she also just wanted things to be peaceful between her and MB.

(*Names, characters and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.)

One cue Lorraine could take from Joseph today is the principle of living and working to please one master and one alone.  If Joseph had been living to please people, he could have easily lost himself trying to figure out how he could both honor his master and please his master’s wife at the same time.  But for Joseph, it was simple: to honor God was to honor his master, which meant to say “no” to his master’s wife.  It is impossible to please everyone because people will want opposite things from us, often at the same time.  Better to acknowledge earlier on the unfeasibility of this strategy for life and go with something more sound.  What kept life simple for Joseph and also enabled him to maintain integrity was his determination to live life right in the eyes of God (v. 9).

Our parents want one thing, our in-laws another; our bosses want one thing, our spouses another.  When everyone is important but everyone has conflicting interests, how can we avoid getting caught in the middle or ending up compromising what we know is right?  Only by living to please God first.

Prayer:  Lord, help me to see all decisions through the lens of, “Does this honor You or is it sin against You?”  When I place You first, making the best decisions for all involved will take care of itself.  Free me from any people-pleasing tendencies and help me to walk in your ways.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 25

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Lunch Break Study 

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8: As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

Questions to Consider

1. In this passage, what does it mean to live to please God?  (vv. 1-3)

2. What aspects are related to the command to “avoid sexual immorality?” (vv. 3-6)

3. Concepts like “sanctified,” “holy,” and “not like those who don’t know God” are a running theme throughout this passage. How is the call to be holy related to this particular command?  How set apart are your views on this subject from those of society? (vv. 7-8)

Notes

1. To be sanctified, specifically by avoiding sexual sin.

2. Believers were to control their bodies in a way that set them apart from what were perhaps cultural norms; they were also specifically commanded not to sin against their brothers and sisters in this particular way.

3. To be holy is to be “set apart.” Perhaps in that culture, much the same as ours, the concept of sexual morality was seen as just rules made by people (v. 8) that we could take or leave.  The real battle was, therefore, not just physical but in the mind, and to win, believers had to set themselves apart by rejecting the prevailing mindset of the day to align themselves with God’s.

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Evening Reflection

Tonight, ask yourself these questions: How many of the decisions that I made today were to please God vs. to please people or be in line with the society at large?  When I made decisions based, first of all, on whether or not God would be pleased, did I experience His peace? (This is the real way to achieve peace in life, Lorraine 🙂 If so, thank the Lord.

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provide by Pastor Peter Yoon of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego, was first posted on October 15, 2017.  Peter is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Lying with Benefits”

Genesis 12:11-17 

As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.” 14 When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman. 15 And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. 16 He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels. 17 But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. 

If you could lie about something and not only get away with it but receive nice benefits along the way, would you do it? 

I know lying to parents is a serious matter, for I cannot see a bit of humor when my children lie to me. Jason’s lips and mouth will be covered with residues of ice cream, and when I ask him, “What did you just eat before dinner?” he will actually say, “Nothing,” thinking that he can actually get away with it. My other son once attempted to have me sign a form, stating that I had reviewed his poorly taken exam; he knew that in my busyness, I’d sign anything trustingly, whereas his mother would thoroughly inspect the form before signing it. 

We’ve all tried to fool our parents as kids. But on a more serious note, where do you find yourself still trying to fool others, because either you can get away with it, or you find yourself in a more beneficial state than before? 

Abram must have been a pretty good liar. He fools Pharaoh along with all of the Egyptian officials into believing that Sarai was indeed Abram’s sister and not his wife. As a result, Pharaoh treated Abram “well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.” Abram came into Egypt fearing for his life, but by lying he had received a king’s hospitality and generosity. 

Thankfully, the omniscient Lord had a different and better purpose for Abram and Sarai. Their lives weren’t destined for a life of opulence in a foreign land while living under the guile as siblings (poor Sarai, I can’t imagine what she was thinking)—it was much more than that. They were called from a pagan land to have a friendship with God and start a family which would eventually become a nation through whom the Savior of the world would arrive on earth.

We try to fool others to gain fame, reputation, wealth, or just about anything that seem to benefit us; and we might even get really good at fooling others. However, our omniscient Lord cannot be fooled, nor does He allow His people to sow into deception. Because He loves us so much and has a totally different destiny for our lives, He just might let truth surface so that we might be free. 

Prayer: Lord, You are the God of truth. Help me to trust in You and live in truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 24