October 16, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on June 13, 2018, is provided by Pastor Yohan Lee. He is a friend of AMI who in the past has served as a staff at several AMI churches. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Cairn University (MA).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Truth Hurts”

Jeremiah 11:18-20

Because the Lord revealed their plot to me, I knew it, for at that time he showed me what they were doing. 19 I had been like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter; I did not realize that they had plotted against me, saying, “Let us destroy the tree and its fruit; let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more.” 20 But you, Lord Almighty, who judge righteously and test the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have committed my cause.

When it comes to evangelism, there tends to be two approaches. One is the direct method, where you just ask anyone, “Do you know Jesus?” In its most extreme form, you’ll see street preachers telling passersby that they are doomed to an eternity of torture in hell. Perhaps in reaction to the aggression and negative perception of the stereotypical street preacher, the other method of “friendship evangelism” has gotten more and more popular and is how most Christians choose to “evangelize” today. Perhaps you’re familiar with this method; you basically try your best to be the most loving, most patient, most honest person on the planet (i.e. you try to be like Jesus), then you wait and pray for that eventual day when your friend will ask you why you’re so “different” from everybody else. Of course, your answer will be “Jesus,” which will open the door to a wonderful conversation about faith and the Gospel.

In theory, friendship evangelism sounds great, but in reality, it has many flaws. First, no one can sustain prolonged Christlikeness (that’s why we need a savior). Second, most people are so cynical, they don’t admire that guy who is always joyful and caring; they hate him more because he’s so annoying. But most importantly, if we’re honest, the real reason most of us “practice” friendship evangelism is that we’re a little scared of what happens when we represent Christ. We’re afraid to be labeled a close-minded “Jesus Freak”, and we’re afraid that our words will be misinterpreted as judgmental and eventually break the relationships we worked so hard to build. This a legitimate concern and an oftentimes sad outcome when sharing Christ.

If you’ve been struggling with how to share Christ with people you love, please understand that you are not alone in your struggles. The Bible and church history is full of men and women who have loved deeply, spoken truthfully, and been hated venomously. In today’s passage we see that Jeremiah was one such person. God gave him a message, albeit not a message that was easy to hear, and he delivered it. The people hated him for it and even plotted to kill him. The truth of the matter is that we as believers must understand the Gospel will not be “good news” to the majority, but we must continue to share the truth because it is the only hope people have. So this morning, if you’ve been struggling with how to share Christ, let me encourage you, it’s always going to be a struggle. Perhaps, it might not go well, but understand also that God sees, and your words do have the potential to be life-giving.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, this morning I want to pray for _____________. Let me be bold enough to share the gospel with him/her, even if it costs our relationship. Help them to see Your love for them. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 19

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 10:8-15: But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim:9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of alland richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Questions to Consider

According to this passage, how is a person saved?
According to this passage, what is the believer’s role and why is it important?
Why do you suppose Paul quoted Isaiah 28:16 in vs. 11, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame?” What kind of shame was he talking about?

Notes

We are saved by confessing with our mouths that “Jesus is Lord” and believing in our hearts that God raised him from the dead. In other words, it is faith in Christ, not religion or actions.
As believers our role in the spreading of the Gospel is to preach the good news to those who have not heard (vv.14-15). This role is obviously critical because nobody can call on Jesus unless they’ve been told of him.
I don’t think Paul was talking about a day-to-day-never-feeling-ashamed-of-anything-that-anyone-has-to-say-about-us type of feeling. But ultimately, I think he was talking about an eternal feeling. One day, when we are standing with God, we’ll know that we made the right choice and stood in the truth.

Evening Reflection

Today’s theme was sharing the gospel, but more than that, it was about standing for God and doing what pleases him only. This evening, ask yourself, “Is my one desire truly to live for and please God, or do I desire other things more?” (family, popularity, comfort, money, etc.). Perhaps you live life trying to satisfy too many opinions or voices; perhaps you need to simplify and just listen to one.

October 15, Tuesday

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

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“In God We Trust”

Jeremiah 43:4-7

So Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers and all the people disobeyed the Lord’s command to stay in the land of Judah. 5 Instead, Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers led away all the remnant of Judah who had come back to live in the land of Judah from all the nations where they had been scattered. 6 They also led away all those whom Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had left with Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan—the men, the women, the children and the king’s daughters. And they took Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch son of Neriah along with them. 7 So they entered Egypt in disobedience to the Lord and went as far as Tahpanhes.

In the Bible, Egypt is not just a place where God rescued the Israelites from—but it is a representation of the world. It is a place of slavery, idol worship, wickedness, and persecution. The Lord did not want the Israelites to go back to Egypt, nor did He want His people to create an alliance with them, because in doing so, the Israelites would once again be under Egypt’s spiritual and physical oppression. Simply put, Egypt represents sin, and God wants His people to stay far away from it.

In today’s passage, the Israelite leaders ignore the Lord’s warnings, and they decide to escape to Egypt . If you remember from chapter 41, this decision was made by Johanan, because he was afraid that the Chaldeans (Babylonians) might avenge the murder of their appointed governor for the land of Israel. Instead of trusting in the Lord for help, they put their trust in the great nation of Egypt. Angered by their decision, the Lord commands Jeremiah to tell the Israelites that they will fall under the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon.

Ever since moving to East Asia, many of my insecurities have surfaced as a leader. And through these insecurities, I’m starting to realize that I do not trust in the Lord as much as I thought I did. I find myself relying on my limited experiences, talking to mentors, and reading different leadership material. While these things maybe not seem like “Egypt,” I find myself relying on these things more than trusting in the Lord.

Trusting in the Lord is difficult for a variety of reasons: we cannot control the situation, we think we know better, or we don’t see the “results” right away. Because of these reasons we look for security in more tangible areas such as money, relationships, or ourselves. While all of these things are not bad, they can become our “Egypts,” because they distract us from our true security: Jesus.

One way that I’ve been training myself to trust in the Lord is by remembering His faithfulness in my life. When I have pockets of time, whether on the subway or walking to school, I can just think about how God has led me up to this point. Oftentimes, I fail to trust in the Lord because I forget what He has done for me in the past.

I want to encourage you to use those pockets of time—whether on your drive to school or work, or waiting while standing in line—to remember God’s faithfulness!

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness to Your people. Lord, help me to rely on You and not on our “Egypts,” for those things are temporary fixes that are fleeting, but You are forever. Help me to remember the lyrics of the hymnist Daniel B. Towner: “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way. To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” Amen.

Bible Reading For Today: Job 18

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 6:25-34: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Questions to Consider

In which two ways does Matthew encourage us not to worry about our lives? (vv. 26-27)
Who does Matthew say worry about these things? Why is this important? (v. 32)
As Christians, how do we fight this worry?

Notes

Matthew reminds us that the birds do not worry about storing food, because the Lord always provides for them. He also reminds us that flowers do not worry about the “clothes” they wear, because God provides for them. He accentuates Jesus’ teaching by saying that Solomon’s splendor does not come close to a flower’s beauty.

Matthew reminds us that pagans worry about what to eat, drink and wear. As God’s people, we have full access to the Creator of the Universe who provides for our every need; therefore, we are to be different, and one way to set ourselves apart is by not worrying.
We fight this worry by seeking God. When we make God the center of our lives, then as a loving Father, He will provide everything for us.

Evening Reflection

Before you go to bed, take a moment to reflect on one time that God has been faithful. Take a moment to write it down, and give thanks to Him. May we become intentional in trusting in Him.

October 14, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on February 19, 2018, is provided by Pastor David Kwon of Journey Community Church (Raleigh). David, a graduate of Drexel University and Columbia International University (M.Div.) is married to Helen (“Pie”), and they have three beautiful daughters (Cara, Phoebe, and Ruth).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The God Who Never Forgets”

Genesis 47:1-6

So Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, “My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan. They are now in the land of Goshen.” 2 And from among his brothers he took five men and presented them to Pharaoh. 3 Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, as our fathers were.” 4 They said to Pharaoh, “We have come to sojourn in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants’ flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. And now, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.” 5 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. 6 The land of Egypt is before you. Settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land. Let them settle in the land of Goshen, and if you know any able men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.”

A few years ago, I had forgotten to pick up my daughter after school. I remember that I had gotten extremely busy that day with work and meetings and I eventually forgot what time it was. Her school eventually called me and when I picked her up, she was quick to forgive me for being late, but the reality is that no one likes to be forgotten.

As we have been looking at the life of Joseph, one theme that is emphasized is that God never forgets about His people and He is faithful to keep His promises. Even when we look back to Genesis 39 when Joseph was in prison – in what looked like hopelessness and despair, it says that, “the Lord was with him.” (v.23). The Lord had never forgotten about Joseph especially when circumstances looked dark.

In today’s passage, Joseph successfully persuades Pharaoh to allow his family to settle in the land of Goshen. Because of Joseph, virtually boundless favor was extended to Jacob’s family. Unbelievably, in addition to keeping his initial promise of the best of the land, Pharaoh even offered the brothers employment as superintendents of the royal cattle. God’s hand and favor was continually on Joseph.

Do you feel like God has forgotten about you at times? Do you feel like he is distant? When we look at the life of Joseph, it reminds us that He is working in every detail of our lives. He is always faithful to his promises and because of that truth; we are called to respond in obedience.

Prayer: Lord, thank You always for keeping Your promises. By the power of the Holy Spirit, help me today to be joyous, hopeful and loving, knowing that I serve a tender loving God. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 17

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Peter 1:3-9: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Questions to Consider

According to Peter, what is the reason for our hope?
How should we look at our trials and what is the purpose of them?
How can we be comforted by this passage?

Notes

Peter reminds the believers in this letter to look at Christ’s great mercy and the inheritance that is imperishable and will never be taken away from us. That is the reason why we have hope.
We go through trials because it shows us the genuineness of our faith (v. 7). We can rejoice with joy because we have been saved by his great love (v. 8-9).
We can be assured of a living hope that will never be taken away from us as believers.

Evening Reflection

Take some time reflecting on the passages you read today. What challenged you? Take time to think about how you will apply it in your life.

October 13, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on August 20, 2017, is provided by Jasmin Izumikawa. Jasmin, a long-time member of the Church of Southland, is a high school teacher.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Perseverance in Prayer”

John 17:1

“He lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you . . .’”

On a recent flight, I watched a movie on the plane that began with a scene of a reporter asking “Miss Elliot, aren’t you scared? Given the history, given the dangers?” Elliot replied, “Of course. I’m scared that I might let the mission down in some way. . .. Courage is fear that has said its prayers.” Her answer caused me to think about the conflicts and fears that I had been holding onto rather than lifting up to the LORD in prayer. This of course seems like a normal reaction by most of us who “fix our eyes . . . on what is seen, [not] on what is unseen” (1 Cor. 4:18).

How did our Lord Jesus handle his mission when one wrong move (think the temptation of Jesus by the devil) could have destroyed everything, thereby ensuring that humans would be forever lost in their sins? Jesus, as he was about to offer his last prayer before the crucifixion, “lifted up His eyes to heaven”; instead of allowing the suffering and death which lay before his sight to turn him away from obeying God’s will (Mt. 26:39), he fixated His eyes on the unseen: that is, the Father and His will which he came to fulfill.

What a beautiful stance to take—taking a position of humility, hope, and faith towards the LORD, in spite of the reality of such sorrow. It takes a deep and loving relationship with the Father for us to pour out our prayers even in the greatest difficulties.

So, do we pray to acknowledge God’s will above our own requests and conflicts in life? Do we pray with tenacity, especially when difficulty lies ahead? Perhaps there is something you have stopped praying about after long periods of wholehearted effort, or maybe you have grown weary of praying over the same problems after all this time. Take heart and lift your prayers again and again to the LORD, because we must commit to prayer rather than neglect our conversations with the Lord.

Remember, it takes perseverance in prayer to be effective and victorious, as evidenced by the parable of the persistent widow (Lk. 18:1-8) which begins with these words of Jesus: “They should always pray and not give up.” Let us take the stance of a believer who has truly received the gift of eternal life by our loving Father, and lift up our voices in deep and steadfast prayer.

Prayer: LORD, thank you for the gift of eternal life. Thank you for being my loving Father and for hearing my prayers. Cover me with your grace and love so that I may be a channel of mercy and blessing to my spouse, family, co-workers, and neighbors. Fill me with kindness so that I may bring Your words to those around me with gentleness and humility. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 16

October 12, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on August 19, 2017, is written by Mei Lan Thallman. Mei Lan served faithfully at Grace Covenant Church (formerly UC campus) for many years.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Bucking NO More”

Ephesians 5:21-33 (NIV)

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body.31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Summer is a prime time for weddings. This year we’ve received six wedding invitations and have been to three already. Over six years of shepherding the young adult congregation at GCC, we have walked many dating couples through dating and premarital counseling, and have ultimately been a part of their wedding date. I always cry tears of joy and celebration at these weddings, recalling each couples’ unique struggles and journeys that have brought them to this sacred moment of making a lifelong commitment to each other as husband and wife.

My husband and I celebrated our 21st year anniversary this June. Floods of memories brought me back to that special day, but the one that stood out the most to me was God’s transforming power in my life as a bride. The pastor who married us in Taiwan knew both of us very well—he was our pastor, Kirt’s mentor as a seminary intern, and my boss (I served two years under him as church secretary). In our marriage sermon, he described me as a bucking horse whose natural tendency is to buck and kick at my husband’s attempt to lead me. As funny as I must admit this illustration was, our pastor spoke out of love, wisdom and prophetic insight. For many years in my marriage I unwisely resisted, challenged and rebelled against my husband’s leadership, rather than cooperate with his love for me to lead us before the Lord.

By God’s unrelenting grace and love, and much credit to my husband’s persevering trust and commitment to Christ, they never gave up on me nor did they allow me to stay in my dysfunctional and destructive old self, thought and behavior patterns. They stood by my side through my darkest moments and gave me the courage to face and overcome past brokenness. Together they loved me to love life abundantly and encouraged me continually to becoming the woman God created me to be. I am far from reaching perfection, but I am proud to testify before the world that my God is not through with me yet. I am His work in progress, until I meet him in eternity.

Whether you are single or married, male or female, Jesus is your beloved and he is committed 100% to your sanctification of becoming his radiant bride. Please don’t buck his work by resisting his lordship. Surrender to his love and care for you. He is your trustworthy bridegroom.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for being our Bridegroom by your unrelenting sacrifice on our behalf; for teaching us how to love and submit by your example to the Father; and for showing us that true freedom and ultimate fulfillment is found under your lordship, protection, provision and unchanging truth. Help us to faithfully cooperate with your sanctifying work in our lives as your radiant bride to the world around us. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 14-15

October 11, Friday

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

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“What Is Scripture to You?”

Jeremiah 36:9-16 (ESV)

In the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month, all the people in Jerusalem and all the people who came from the cities of Judah to Jerusalem proclaimed a fast before the Lord. 10 Then, in the hearing of all the people, Baruch read the words of Jeremiah from the scroll, in the house of the Lord, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the secretary, which was in the upper court, at the entry of the New Gate of the Lord’s house. 11 When Micaiah the son of Gemariah, son of Shaphan, heard all the words of the Lord from the scroll, 12 he went down to the king’s house, into the secretary’s chamber, and all the officials were sitting there: Elishama the secretary, Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, Elnathan the son of Achbor, Gemariah the son of Shaphan, Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the officials. 13 And Micaiah told them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the scroll in the hearing of the people. 14 Then all the officials sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, son of Shelemiah, son of Cushi, to say to Baruch, “Take in your hand the scroll that you read in the hearing of the people, and come.” So Baruch the son of Neriah took the scroll in his hand and came to them. 15 And they said to him, “Sit down and read it.” So Baruch read it to them. 16 When they heard all the words, they turned one to another in fear. And they said to Baruch, “We must report all these words to the king.”

Foundational to the Christian faith is what we know and believe about the Scriptures. As we read and study our Bibles, there are some core values that must be taken into consideration if we are to get the most out of our time in God’s Word. These values will affect our attitude towards the subjects that we encounter, many of which are controversial in our society, and this in turn will affect our desire to read and obey the Word of God. Central to the correct handling of the Scriptures is understanding the inherent authority of God’s Word and approaching the text with the right attitude of the heart.

According to Wayne Grudem , “the authority of Scripture means that the words of the Bible are God’s words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God.” Clearly, disbelief and disobedience constitute an attitude of rebellion towards God. Anyone who is unwilling to submit themselves under the authority of God’s Word is in a state of sin. As difficult as it might seem, our disagreement with anything taught explicitly in the Scriptures is displeasing to God. Although it might be natural to question and doubt some parts of Scripture, ultimately, even those things that we do not fully understand are to be believed and obeyed. It is pride and a lack of faith that says I will believe and obey only those things I completely comprehend and agree with. If we are to uphold the authority of the Bible, we cannot place ourselves over the Word of God (as judge and critic), but rather, we must place ourselves under the Word (as student and servant).

As Baruch reads the scrolls, we see the proper attitude towards the Word of God displayed in the reactions of the king’s officials. There is both fear and a willingness to accept the content as true. When these officials recognize the weight of what is being shared, they immediately sense a need to share the message with the king. In our day and age, we have become so obsessed with not offending people that we fail to share the instructions and warnings of the Scriptures to those who need to hear them. Who knows, perhaps people will listen and turn to the Lord—just like these officials!

Prayer: Father, help me to submit myself to the authority of Your Word. May Your Holy Spirit open my mind to understand the Scriptures, and give me an undivided heart to obey. Teach me Your ways and keep me in the path of Your truth. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 13

Lunch Break Study

Read John 17:6-19 (ESV): “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Questions to Consider

What is the identifying marker of those who belong to God?
Where did Jesus’ teaching originate from?
What does it mean to be sanctified in the truth?

Notes

It’s their desire and ability to obey His word. One of the reoccurring themes in the apostle John’s writing is the connection between loving God and obeying. Love for God is concretely expressed through the keeping of his commandments.
Jesus freely confesses that the source of His teaching is not from Himself but from the Father who sent Him. According to verse 8, Jesus simply gave the disciples the word that was given to Him. In fact, earlier in John 12:49, Jesus asserts that He does not speak on His own authority, but speaks only what He hears His father saying.
Sanctification means to be made “holy and set apart.” This passage teaches us that sanctification is not simply a matter of the will but begins by accepting the truth of all that God has said. We are sanctified by accepting and obeying the truth of His Word. It is this truth that will ultimately set us free to live lives that are holy and pleasing to Him.

Evening Reflection

Do you have questions and doubts regarding certain truths taught in the Scriptures? Ask God to give you clarity regarding those issues so that you can continue to grow in faith. Too often we fail to wrestle with our doubts and to ask God for the answers. The Lord wants us to have a reasonable faith and desires for us to work out every area of our salvation.

October 10, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional, first posted on August 9, 2018, is provided by Pastor Doug Tritton. Doug has been pastoring Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia since 2021.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“His Yoke is Easy and Light”

Jeremiah 27:19-22

“For thus says the Lord of hosts concerning the pillars, the sea, the stands, and the rest of the vessels that are left in this city, 20 which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take away, when he took into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem— 21 thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that are left in the house of the Lord, in the house of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem: 22 They shall be carried to Babylon and remain there until the day when I visit them, declares the Lord. Then I will bring them back and restore them to this place.”

Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

None of us is a fan of adversity. For me, I absolutely hate having conversations with Comcast’s customer service. Or try airlines—I remember getting into a very lengthy conversation with airline personnel after a flight cancelation. It’s painful to deal with a company that really seems to wish the worst on you, and I’m sure I’m not alone in dealing with them. Then again, my taste of adversity can’t hold a candle to that which God’s people once faced.

In our passage in Jeremiah, God tells the Israelites to allow Babylon to carry them into exile. What a command—Babylon was an enemy, yet God was allowing the Israelites to be conquered by them! Israel faced its greatest struggle since Egypt, yet ultimately it was what was best for them. Though there would be adversity, God promised peace. He said He would restore His people. They would not be in exile forever –their struggle was only a temporary, though necessary, step.

The yoke of the Lord is of great comfort to His children, as we have talked about the past few days; but it does not mean we will never experience adversity. Throughout the Gospels, we read of Jesus telling His disciples that they would face persecution, they would face opposition. This is the cost of discipleship to Jesus. But this adversity is only temporary. God will come, and He will restore His people for eternity. This is the hope we have. Other yokes may promise temporary peace or ease, but they only result in eternal pain. The yoke of the Lord, while sometimes challenging in our life, will lead to eternal peace and eternal joy.

Jesus told His disciples that there would be trouble in this world, but He also told them to come to Him for rest. He gives us a yoke that is easy to bear–in the sense that we need not worry. It’s light because we do not need to be in control. We can trust Jesus, even in the midst of all occasions of adversity. So as we wrap up this topic of being yoked, let’s continue to come to Jesus and be yoked to Him. Though there will be adversity, we know His yoke is easy and His burden is light. He is the one in control, so let us come to Him!

Prayer: Lord, thank You for offering Your yoke to us, a burden that is easy and light. Help us to continually choose to come to You, knowing that You are the one in control. Help us to continue to release control of our futures, to let go of control of our lives, and to trust You. We come to You, Jesus! May we be forever yoked to You! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 12

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 16:24-26: Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”

Questions to Consider

How do we “come after” Jesus?
What happens when we, by ourselves, try to save our lives?
In what ways is Jesus calling you to follow Him today? Is there something you need to deny?

Notes

Jesus says that to come after Him, we need to first deny ourselves. This means we choose to find our value in Him; we let go of our attempts to create an identity for ourselves in the things of this world. We instead find our identity in Him. Then, we take up our cross—meaning, we accept that there will be adversity in our walk with Jesus.
If we try to save our lives, we will lose them. Death is chasing after us all. As Ecclesiastes teaches us, it’s vanity to chase after the various pleasures of this passing life. Yet, when we let go of this life, recognizing there is a better hope to dwell upon, we instead find a life that is eternal. This is a life spent with Jesus.
Take some time to reflect on this question. Perhaps there is something we are holding onto tightly, unwilling to surrender to Jesus. Ask for Jesus’ help to continually surrender and follow Him.

Evening Reflection

Jesus says to us, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” We are burdened and tired because we continue to try to be in control. Tonight, come to Jesus and ask for His rest, a rest that is deeper than anything this world could give, a rest that refreshes our souls. Enjoy this rest tonight!

October 9, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotionals, first posted on October 24, 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

“An Honest Question”

Jeremiah 47:6-7

Ah, sword of the Lord! How long till you are quiet? Put yourself into your scabbard; rest and be still! 7 How can it be quiet when the Lord has given it a charge? Against Ashkelon and against the seashore he has appointed it.”

They say: Time flies when you’re having fun. It really is true. Time flies when you’re at the movies, playing video games, or spending time with someone you love. On the flip side, time seems to slow down when the going gets tough. Ever catch yourself looking at the clock at work? Almost miraculously the day seems to get longer as you wait for break-time, then lunchtime, and then quitting-time. It’s not real— it’s totally imagined—but we still ask, “How long is this gonna last?” We ask the same thing when we’re sick and the dependability of our health is suddenly undermined: “How long?” We ask out of impatience and frustration. But in todays passage, Jeremiah asks, “How long?” in awestruck reverence to God, and maybe even compassionate sorrow for those who must face the judgment of God. And because Jeremiah asks an honest question, he gets an honest reply.

Let’s be honest: judgment is unpleasant, for it reminds us of criticism—usually unfair criticism. It’s no fun. But neither is the righteous judgment of God against sin. God’s judgment is both eye-opening and terrifying. It exposes us for who we really are and reminds us that we have to give an account for the life we live. We’re responsible, and that’s hard. This could be why our response is usually desperation or denial: we become nervous for ourselves and the ones we love, or we just try not to think about it. But adopting a “fight-or-flight” approach to God’s judgment does not help, because we often strengthen false assumptions about God and miss out on true ones. God is NOT indifferent about what we do with our lives or His creation! In fact, God is passionate and emotional and above all—holy. And the more we linger there, the greater our esteem for God will become and the weaker our fascination with the world will be. Let’s face the music. Ask some hard questions. Be honest with God, so that in the end, we might see Him for who He really is: a passionate Creator, a righteous Judge, and a loving Savior.

Prayer: Jesus, we thank You that you took the “sword of God’s judgment” for us at the Cross. Help us to trust You with our hard questions and teach us to embrace Your truth—even when it’s hard. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 11

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 8:13-16: For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

Questions to Consider

What fears are currently affecting your life?
How does the Holy Spirit give us freedom from our fear?
What difference does the Spirit’s cry (v.15) and the Spirit’s witness (v.16) make in our lives?

Notes

Be as honest as you can. Some of the stress in our lives come from being in denial of our fears and disappointments.
First of all, the Spirit leads us. Jesus describes Him as a Helper, Teacher and Guide (Jn 14:16,26; 16:13). He affirms to us the victory won for us by Jesus and our identity as God’s beloved children. We don’t have to deny our fears; we can trust God with them. Ultimately God’s love secures us and strengthens us to face our fears.
The Holy Spirit makes us confident that we belong to God as His children. He reminds us and affirms to us that this is true. The Spirit even enables us to call God “Abba, Father,” which communicates intimacy and closeness. When you feel far from God, ask the Holy Spirit to show you that you’re not.

Evening Reflection

Fight or flight describes how many people cope with the pressures and stresses of the contemporary life. Did you find yourself feeling desperate or wanting to hide today? How did you respond? Invite the Holy Spirit right now to free you from fear and affirm you in the Father’s love.

October 8, Tuesday

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

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Things Better Left Unsaid”

Genesis 37:5-11

Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Please listen to this dream which I have had; 7 for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 Then his brothers said to him, “Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. 9 Now he had still another dream, and related it to his brothers, and said, “Lo, I have had still another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 He related it to his father and to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have had? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow ourselves down before you to the ground?” 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.

Years ago, I had a recurring dream of the most amazing song that I could never remember when I woke up. I’m still tempted to think that I have written the world’s greatest song, and I just can’t remember what it is! One journal told the story of a Doctor Holmes who took up an interest in ether (a chemical used as an anesthetic). After administering it to his patients many times, he decided to have his nurse administer it to him so he could better understand its affects. As he went under and found himself in a “dream-like state,” he became fully persuaded that he had “suddenly grasped the key to all the mysteries of the universe,” but once he awoke, he couldn’t remember what it was. So he decided to do it again, and this time, he had his nurse write down the thoughts that came to him. Again, this key to the universe’s mysteries dawned on him; he muttered it to his nurse who wrote it down. When the analgesic effects of ether wore off, Dr Holmes eagerly asked the nurse to read back to him what he’d said. The nurse read: “The entire universe is permeated with a strong odor of turpentine.” He was, to say the least, underwhelmed. I guess some thoughts in our dreams are better left unsaid (and probably also unsung!).

Joseph was a dreamer. And his dreams weren’t silly like the ones above. They were dreams from God. God had chosen Joseph to do something amazing and Joseph unwisely shared those dreams with his brothers. The text doesn’t give us Joseph’s motives in sharing, but if we put ourselves in his shoes, we can gather that they were malicious at worst or certainly unwise at best. Either way, we are reminded today to check our motives! What is our motivation for sharing even the good things God is doing in our lives? Are we seeking to encourage or brag? Is our desire to glorify God and share our lives with others or something more sinister? Whenever the latter is the case, it may be better to leave things unsaid.

Prayer: Lord, search me and know me—all of my thoughts and intentions. Help me to be aware of my motivations in the things I say to others. Convict me if I use words to tear others down or build myself up. Grant me wisdom as I speak. May what I say be life-giving to those who hear and glorying to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 10

Lunch Break Study

Read Proverbs 16:1-6: The intentions of the heart belong to a man,but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.2 All a person’s ways seem right in his own opinion,but the Lord evaluates the motives.3 Commit your works to the Lord,and your plans will be established.4 The Lord works everything for its own ends—even the wicked for the day of disaster.5 The Lord abhors every arrogant person;rest assured that they will not go unpunished.6 Through loyal love and truth iniquity is appeased;through fearing the Lord one avoids evil.

Questions to Consider

Proverbs reads differently than many other books in the Bible. It is a collection of short, wise sayings, as opposed to a longer teaching or narrative. Therefore, many Proverbs, while often thematically related to what comes before or after, stand on their own and can be received as a piece of sound advice. With this in mind:

What can each of the Proverbs above teach us today as we think about interrogating our motives and being wise with our words? Spend some time reflecting on each of the six proverbs.
Which of the proverbs above speaks most to you personally today? Why? How might God be speaking to you through this proverb?

Note

All of these Proverbs remind us to turn our attention to God and remember that God is both sovereign and good. When we think about evaluating our motives, we have to remember that we are completely dependent on God to point us to what is true and right. Each of these Proverbs can teach us something valuable. For example: Much like the well-known Proverbs 16:9 (“A person plans his course but the LORD directs his steps”), Proverbs 16:1 reminds us that even when we have faulty intentions, God is still present and at work, accomplishing the things He desires. He is Sovereign. This serves as both a warning and a comfort. Proverbs 16:2, warns us that we may not always see clearly, so we have to be sure to align what we think with what God thinks. We tend to get into trouble with our words when we try to establish ourselves (or make a name for ourselves), but if we commit our ways to the LORD, God will Himself establish us in the good things He has for us (Proverbs 16:3). And so on and so forth. (Spend reflecting on each Proverb above.)
Spend some time in personal reflection.

Evening Reflection

… The tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze. (James 3:5)

The book of James reminds us of the power of our words in chapter 3. While we can be more aware of our motives and intentions in the things we say, we cannot, on this side of heaven, have perfectly pure motives in everything. And although it’s nearly impossible to “tame our tongue” (James 3:8), we can surrender it to God by choosing to be watchful of the things we say and the effect our words have on the people around us.

Take some time this evening to go back through your day and the different conversations you had (at home, at work, etc.). How might some of your words have affected others? What were your motives in the things you said? Are there ways you can be more mindful and intentional with your words tomorrow? (e.g. Can you be more intentional to encourage and build up, not tear down? Or, can you be more aware of how other’s feel in what you say? Are there ways you can show greater kindness and grace in your words? Etc.) Spend some time reflecting on these things with God. Ask for God’s wisdom and guidance as you do.

October 7, Monday

REPOSTToday’s AMI Devotional QT, first posted on October 1, 2018, is provided by Pastor Shan Gian who leads Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan. Shan is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Rebels”

Jeremiah 41:1-3

In the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, of the royal family, one of the chief officers of the king, came with ten men to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, at Mizpah. As they ate bread together there at Mizpah, 2 Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the ten men with him rose up and struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, with the sword, and killed him, whom the king of Babylon had appointed governor in the land. 3 Ishmael also struck down all the Judeans who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, and the Chaldean soldiers who happened to be there.

The rebel is glorified in our culture today. Maybe it’s because of America’s revolutionary history or because we’re so enamored with stories like Star Wars or Robin Hood, but someone who takes on established authority and radically fights or protests against the status quo is a hero in our day. On the other hand, people who follow orders and do what they’re told to do seem to be boring and uninspiring. Our culture’s heroes are the rebels.

Perhaps this is how Ishmael thought of himself. In this passage, Ishmael takes on the established authority and murders Gedaliah—the governor of Israel appointed by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon—and also massacres all the people and Babylonian soldiers who were with him. Ishmael may have felt like a hero after this, since he was taking on the big, bad guys and wasn’t just accepting a life in subjugation to Babylon. But the reality, though, is that he wasn’t just rebelling against Babylon but he was in rebellion against God’s will, since God had told His people through Jeremiah that His will was that His people be subject to Babylon. Ishmael’s rebellion leads to tragic consequences, not just because he rebelled against Babylon—but he rebelled against God.

There is still something to be said about being a rebel. We’re not to just follow along with what the culture dictates. Christians should at times go against the established authority and against the status quo, but instead of focusing on the excitement and glory of rebellion, the heart of a Christian is to follow Jesus, follow His will, and seek His glory—this is why we call ourselves “followers of Jesus.” And even if we feel it to be boring or unfair, we, as we follow God’s will, are called “to be subject to every human institution” because “this is the will of God” (1 Peter 2:13-14). This doesn’t mean we should never rebel or protest against established authority, but even when we feel the need to do so, the heart behind it should be that we are being subject to God’s will and authority.

Let us submit ourselves to Jesus this day and be followers of Him!

Prayer: God, I pray for a heart of humility and submission to You and to Your will for me. Help me to not just respect and submit to the authorities You have placed over me but to pray and bless them. Help me to follow You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 9

Lunch Break Study

Read Matt. 22:15-22: Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words.16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.

Questions to Consider

How were the Pharisees trying to “entangle” Jesus with their question?
What was Jesus’ attitude towards Caesar and the Roman authority?
What does it mean for us to give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and give to God the things that are God’s?

Notes

If Jesus said that it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, then the Jewish people would feel like He was pro-Caesar/pro-Rome, but if He said, it was unlawful to pay taxes to Caesar, then Jesus could be accused of insurrection and rebellion against Rome.
In saying, “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s,” Jesus was displaying an attitude of submission to Rome. Submitting to Caesar was not antithetical to submitting to God. Rather, by submitting to Caesar, Jesus was submitting to God’s authority through Caesar. Jesus was not concerned with competing with Caesar’s rule, because Jesus’ kingdom was not to be one of the political realm.
As people submitting to the kingship of Jesus, we are called to submit to the human and political authorities. We should pay our taxes, obey the laws, and also pray for and bless those with authority over us. Being subject to human authorities is part of our submission and obedience to God.

Evening Reflection

There are most certainly people in our lives whom we find it difficult to submit to. The solution is not rebellion but submission to the authority of Jesus. Pray for a heart of humility and love towards all of the human authorities above you.