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: 

  1. 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. 
  2. Which of the proverbs above speaks most to you personally today? Why? How might God be speaking to you through this proverb? 


Note

  1. 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.)
  2. 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

  1. How were the Pharisees trying to “entangle” Jesus with their question?
  2. What was Jesus’ attitude towards Caesar and the Roman authority?
  3. 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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

October 6, Sunday

REPOST  Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on September 10, 2017, is provided by Pastor Mark Chun through whom God founded the Radiance Christian Church (S.F.) in 2012. Mark currently serves a staff at Radiance. 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Marriage and Family”

Genesis 2:19-25

Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.  But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib x he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. 25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

In this passage, we see that marriage and family is the only social institution that was a part of God’s created order before the Fall—before the consequence of sin.   Therefore, we are given a glimpse of what an ideal marriage should look like by God’s perfect design.  We see immediately that the dignity and equality of the genders is never questioned in the Scriptures.  It is simply assumed, and therefore, the inequality that we see in the world is not by design.  I believe Christians should consider it to be injustice when women are paid less for doing the same work as men, when positions of power—whether it is in politics or the corporate world—are withheld from them.  These types of social issues should be examined, but alongside it, we are seeing an increasing attack on the notion of God’s design for men as the head of the family.  

The argument that I have heard on many occasions is that it makes no sense that a woman can be the president of the United States but in the home she has to take a demotion.  In fact, certain schools of feminist thought consider traditional views of marriage and family to be the root source of our societal problems in gender equality.    And I would agree to a certain degree because traditional views are not the same thing as Biblical views.   In fact, I would argue that Christianity, even when it has often been improperly or partially implemented, has offered a much better solution for women than any other social construct. 

Rodney Stark, in his book The Triumph of Christianity, has a fascinating chapter on why women in the Roman Empire converted at such high rates.  Some of the archaeological findings show that in the catacombs under Rome, Christian women were nearly as likely as Christian men to be commemorated with lengthy inscriptions.  Princeton historian Brent Shaw made this observation in regards to his discovery:  “This near equality in the commemoration of males and females is something that is peculiar to Christians, and sets them apart from the non-Christian populations of the city.”  

Another reason many women converted to Christianity was to protect their daughters.  A common practice among Roman aristocrats was the taking of child brides.  Cambridge historian Keith Hopkins calculated that many of the famous women in Rome were married before the age of 12, and nearly 50% of pagan women were married off before their 15th birthday.  In contrast, it appeared that among Christians, it was a growing practice to withhold their daughters from marriage until 18.   Contrary to popular thought, it would appear that the notion of Christian marriage and gender roles furthered the cause of women and gave them a place of dignity, equality, and safety within the church in comparison to the oppression that was prevalent in Roman society.

Prayer:  Lord, we place our trust in Your perfect design for our marriages.  We intercede for our families, knowing that there are problems that sin causes.  We pray that we would not simply accept the way the world defines the concept of marriage but look into the Scriptures.  We also pray that You would protect our marriages and children, as well as our parent’s marriages.  May we reflect the love that Christ has for His Church as we live in harmony with our spouses.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Job 8

October 5, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provide by Pastor Peter Yoon of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego, was first posted on October 14, 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

“Another 438 Years?”

Genesis 11:10-26

10 These are the generations of Shem. When Shem was 100 years old, he fathered Arpachshad two years after the flood. 11 And Shem lived after he fathered Arpachshad 500 years and had other sons and daughters. 12 When Arpachshad had lived 35 years, he fathered Shelah. 13 And Arpachshad lived after he fathered Shelah 403 years and had other sons and daughters.14 When Shelah had lived 30 years, he fathered Eber. 15 And Shelah lived after he fathered Eber 403 years and had other sons and daughters.16 When Eber had lived 34 years, he fathered Peleg. 17 And Eber lived after he fathered Peleg 430 years and had other sons and daughters.18 When Peleg had lived 30 years, he fathered Reu. 19 And Peleg lived after he fathered Reu 209 years and had other sons and daughters.20 When Reu had lived 32 years, he fathered Serug. 21 And Reu lived after he fathered Serug 207 years and had other sons and daughters.22 When Serug had lived 30 years, he fathered Nahor. 23 And Serug lived after he fathered Nahor 200 years and had other sons and daughters.24 When Nahor had lived 29 years, he fathered Terah. 25 And Nahor lived after he fathered Terah 119 years and had other sons and daughters.26 When Terah had lived 70 years, he fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

PatriarchAgeBible Reference
Shem600Genesis 11:10–11
Arphaxad438Genesis 11:12–13
Shelah433Genesis 11:14–15
Eber464Genesis 11:16–17
Peleg239Genesis 11:18–19
Reu239Genesis 11:20–21
Serug230Genesis 11:22–23
Nahor148Genesis 11:24–25
Terah205Genesis 11:32
Abraham175Genesis 25:7

From: https://answersingenesis.org/bible-timeline/genealogy/did-adam-and-noah-really-live-over-900-years/ 

I once asked my wife after thinking about the ages of some of the Bible patriarchs of Genesis, “Honey, can you imagine being married to me for another 438 years?” I think I actually asked her this question during one of our wedding anniversary dinners—meaning on a good day. Well, you can imagine what she said in response. =) 

When I read about the number of years some of our forefathers lived, I cannot fathom what life would have been like living so many years. Could you imagine feeling this way in this single-panel comic? 

On the positive side, I thought, we’d be really good at developing some of our skillsets. Could you imagine playing basketball for 438 years of your life? You’d be really good. But on the flip side, could you imagine working for another 438 years at your job? Even if you love your job, you’re probably saying to yourself, “No thank you.” 

Well, either way, you won’t have to work for another 438 years. Nor do you get to refine your skills for that long. And I won’t have to figure out how my wife and I will celebrate our 438th anniversary, let alone our 20th (whew…), but for many of us, we still have a good number of years and decades ahead of us. 

Job 14:5 tells us, “A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.” 

Whether it is 438 or 38, we all have a limited number of days on earth. Given that perspective, the big question is, “How then will we live this One.Life we get to live before our time expires?” In other words, what dream will you chase with your One.Life? 

In a book I recently read titled, One.Life Jesus Calls, We Follow, the writer, Scot Mcknight, proposes: “Religion isn’t enough. Climbing the corporate ladder isn’t enough. Solving intellectual problems isn’t enough. Chasing the American dream isn’t enough. Finding the person to love isn’t enough. Sex isn’t enough. Friends aren’t enough. Science isn’t enough. Politics isn’t enough. Money isn’t enough. Food and drink aren’t enough. Fame isn’t enough. Nothing’s enough. The only thing that is enough is Jesus, and the only way to get to Jesus is to follow him, and that means one thing: giving your One.Life to him and to his dream.”

I truly believe if we are living that sort of life of following Jesus, 438 years might not seem that bad after all. None of us will get to 438. But given the One.Life that we have, let’s not waste it on anything else but following Jesus. 

Prayer: Lord, You have numbered my days. Help me to live today and everyday that follows, following You, Jesus. I don’t want to follow anything or anyone else, but You and You alone. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 6-7

October 4, Friday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotionals, first posted on October 18, 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

“The Ring of Fire”

Jeremiah 48:6-13

Flee! Save yourselves!  You will be like a juniper in the desert! 7 For, because you trusted in your works and your treasures, you also shall be taken; and Chemosh shall go into exile with his priests and his officials. 8 The destroyer shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape; the valley shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the Lord has spoken. 9 “Give wings to Moab, for she would fly away; her cities shall become a desolation, with no inhabitant in them. 10 “Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord with slackness, and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed.

I used to live in the Ring of Fire, which sounds kind of cool but actually is terrifying.  It refers to a horseshoe shaped area in which 90 percent of the world’s earthquakes occur.  So, every couple of years, there would be a major earthquake somewhere nearby.  On several occasions, I participated in disaster relief in affected places.  I remember my first time when I had only been in the new country for half a year and barely spoke the language.  But still, I wanted to help so I tagged along with a group that was bringing supplies to local neighborhoods.  We had a basic training module but the main thing I remember was being told, “Just ask people whom you meet, ‘What happened here?’ and let them share.”  That was it.  It wasn’t complicated.  It was incredibly human.  And even though my language was limited, people wanted to talk. And for many, the disaster served as a wakeup call to realize how their life’s priorities had been misplaced. 

Similarly, one of the greatest horrors of God’s judgment is realizing too late the consequence of our misplaced priorities.  In today’s text, God speaks to the Moabites, Israel’s neighbors, and rebukes them for trusting “in your works and your treasures.” The ultimate Authority was exposing their wrong allegiance to achievement and things rather than to God. And the Moabites paid a dear price for their misplaced priorities. 

Our culture is no different, for we like to talk about the “self-made man or woman.”  The term describes someone who has earned what he or she has through hard work and determination.  Actually, the Bible celebrates such diligence (Prov. 6:6-8), but not to the point of self-satisfaction and self-sufficiency—not to the point where we think we don’t need God.  In fact, all of Scripture testifies that you cannot be happy apart from God.  The Moabites relished their sustainable industries and isolation from much of the conflicts of the region.  They were satisfied but sadly, also separated from knowing the true God.  Neither wealth nor achievement; strength nor security can give you what God, your Creator, can. Remember Psalm 20:7 that says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

Prayer: Lord, show me today the price tags I place on the things of my life: my achievements, my dreams, my stuff, my personality and my relationships.  Help me to receive them as good gifts from You, but teach me to keep You as the center and treasure of my heart!  

Bible Reading for Today: Job 5

Lunch Break Study  

Read Ephesians 2:13-22: But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Paul describes the kind of life that those who trust Jesus can enjoy.  It is the opposite of judgment—the opposite of hostility.  Notice how many times the word “peace” is used.  The effect of peace is more than a dividing wall coming down—it also brings us a new identity and access and confidence.  

Questions to Consider 

  • List the ways in which Jesus made peace between us and God.
  • Sometimes we struggle because we don’t feel like new men and women.  We feel the same.  We even struggle with the same sins.  How does our citizenship in God’s kingdom and membership in God’s family address this insecurity?  
  • How does the Holy Spirit minister peace to us? 

Notes

  • This peace that Jesus gives us is not earned; rather, it is received—“You have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”  Thus, the way to attain peace is by trusting in Jesus because “He himself is our peace.”  Notice: He brings us near (v.13); He breaks down what separates us from God (v.14); He makes us new people (v.15); He dies so that there is NO condemnation for believers (v.16); He takes the initiative to speak peace to us (v.17); He gives us access to the Father (v.18); He gives us a new identity (v.19); He is Himself our solid foundation for faith (v.20); He unites believers into God’s family (v.21); He gives us the Holy Spirit to build us up (v.22).  This is a complete and decisive victory that Jesus won for us.  Receive it!
  • These two identities remind us that just because you don’t “feel” different does not mean that you are still the same.  When you are part of the family, you belong regardless of your failures.  In the Roman world, adoption was absolutely permanent and once adopted, you could not then be disowned.  Now, it is true that when people change their citizenship, they remain the same in some regards (same ethnicity, family, preferences), but there are also telling differences, such as having new opportunities, enjoying benefits and exercising the rights offered by the new country. So it is with saints who still continue to struggle with sin: you might feel the same, but you are not!  
  • Verse 18 tells us that the Spirit enables us to access God’s presence.  This doesn’t mean God is not with us.  He is, but we may be unaware of it.  The Spirit manifests God’s presence to us so that we might enjoy the benefits of Christ’s victory.  Verse 22 says the same but in a corporate context.  The Spirit unites and builds up believers so we might know that God is in our midst.  

Evening Reflection

One of the ways we express priority and value to God is worship.  How was your worship today?  It doesn’t just mean singing songs.  We worship when our hearts are devoted to God and our unseen intentions are to please Him.  Take a moment to worship the Father for His patient love; the Son for making a way for you; and the Spirit who pulls us into the place of transformation.  

October 3, Thursday 

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Andrew Kim, was originally posted on October 18, 2018.  Andrew, who is presently pastoring Alive Church in Montreal, was recently ordained by AMI. Congratulations.   

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Pride” 

Jeremiah 46:14-17 

The word that the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to strike the land of Egypt: 14 “Declare in Egypt, and proclaim in Migdol; proclaim in Memphis and Tahpanhes; say, ‘Stand ready and be prepared, for the sword shall devour around you.’ 15 Why are your mighty ones face down? They do not stand because the Lord thrust them down. 16 He made many stumble, and they fell, and they said one to another, ‘Arise, and let us go back to our own people and to the land of our birth, because of the sword of the oppressor.’ 17 Call the name of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, ‘Noisy one who lets the hour go by.’

St. Augustine was probably the most influential Christian thinker after the apostles. His contribution to the church has been felt throughout the ages especially in the formation of Christian thought around the Fall. He concludes that the Fall was due to human pride, where Adam and Eve thought of themselves more highly than they ought. Instead of yielding to the boundaries laid out by God (not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil), they chose to trust in their own judgments and ate from the forbidden tree. Pride blinded them from recognizing that autonomous living apart from God leads to death rather than to more freedom and life. In other words, pride always keeps us from seeing our need for God. 

In today’s passage, we are once again reading through Jeremiah’s prophetic judgments upon the nation of Egypt. Their doom is imminent and inevitable. At first glance, it would be easy to see God in this passage as one who is simply angry, ready to lash out at His enemies. But when we read carefully, we see a God who had given the Egyptians a chance to repent. In verse 17, it says, “noisy one who lets the hour go by.” Many commentators suggest that the statement meant that Pharaoh did not seek God’s mercy and help but rather chose to go in his own way. Due to his persistent refusal to ask for God’s grace, the hour for repentance had closed and gone by. Simply put, it was his pride that blinded him from his need for God to save him and his nation. 

Many of us live with the same type of pride in our lives. Although we might talk about God as if we need Him, the way that we live our lives betray that sentiment. We have chosen to make our own way without His help. However, it is important to learn from the mistake of Pharaoh—that pride always leads to our own destruction. Even in our success we must learn to rely upon God through prayer and a heart posture of need. There is something so attractive about people who wear humility in their daily attire, acknowledging their weaknesses and constantly leaning upon the power of God. Let us be those types of people. Let us be people who see clearly because we have learned to seek God in our lives! 

Prayer: Father, it is so easy to become prideful and self-sufficient, and to live life as if I don’t need You. Help me to recognize my weaknesses and my need for you. Teach me how to lean into Your power in my everyday life! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 4

Lunch Break Study 

Read 2 Corinthians 3:1-6: Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Questions to Consider

  • What is Paul referring to as his letters of recommendation? 
  • What makes Paul sufficient to be effective in his ministry? 
  • In what tangible ways can you be more dependent on God? 

Notes

  • He is referring to the people in Corinth who have been affected by his ministry in positive ways. In this letter, people are questioning ministry of Paul. For this reason, he says that the validity of ministry is their own change. 
  • Paul says that transformation and the effectiveness of his ministry is not because of anything inherently in himself, but his sufficiency is in God! 
  • Personal response.

Evening Reflection 

Reflect on what Pastor Tim Keller said: “…the essence of gospel-humility is not thinking more of myself or thinking less of myself, it is thinking of myself less.” 

October 2, Wednesday

REPOST  Today’s AMI Devotional, first posted on October 10, 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

“Mercy even in Judgement”

Jeremiah 44:1-6

This word came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews living in Lower Egypt—in Migdol, Tahpanhes and Memphis—and in Upper Egypt: 2 “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You saw the great disaster I brought on Jerusalem and on all the towns of Judah. Today they lie deserted and in ruins 3 because of the evil they have done. They aroused my anger by burning incense to and worshiping other gods that neither they nor you nor your ancestors ever knew. 4 Again and again I sent my servants the prophets, who said, ‘Do not do this detestable thing that I hate!’ 5 But they did not listen or pay attention; they did not turn from their wickedness or stop burning incense to other gods. 6 Therefore, my fierce anger was poured out; it raged against the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem and made them the desolate ruins they are today.

Recently, I’ve been talking to my mother about disciplining children (since I am going to be a dad soon). My mother probably isn’t all that different from other mothers in that she hated spanking us because it made her sad to see us in pain. Deep in her heart, she hoped that her warnings would be enough to stop us from misbehaving. 

In today’s passage, the Lord is once again speaking through Jeremiah to the Israelites in Egypt. He reminds them of the previous punishment that the Lord inflicted on the people of Judah because they worshipped false idols. While the Lord’s anger burned towards the people of Judah, we see that He still had mercy towards them. In verse 4, God says, “Again and again I sent my servants the prophets, who said, ‘Do not do this detestable thing that I hate!’” Amid their rebellion, God gave the Israelites many chances—approximately 400 years’ worth, to repent from their rebellion. Sadly, despite God’s mercy, Judah refused to repent.

There is a popular view that God is a capricious deity who delights in punishing those who do not follow His ways. Quite the contrary, Scripture presents a God who is slow to anger and rich in love. Yes, our God is truly merciful. Because He hates to punish His children, He first warns them of the consequences that will come if they refuse to repent. However, like with any rebellious child, if there is no change, discipline must be applied. But, even His discipline, which is never punitive, is meant to restore our hearts back to Him.

Our God is a God of second chances who delights in blessing His people. Let’s take some time to give thanks for His mercy.  And if you need a second chance from God, take it. 

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that You are merciful to us. I know You are a Holy God who cannot and will not tolerate sin, but You still give us second chances to repent of our sins. Help us not to take Your mercy for granted, and to walk in obedience to Your commandments. Amen.

Bible reading for Today: Job 3

Lunch Break Study

Read Exodus 34:4-14: So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the Lord had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. 5 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. 6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”8 Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped. 9 “Lord,” he said, “if I have found favor in your eyes, then let the Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance.” 10 Then the Lord said: “I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the Lord, will do for you. 11 Obey what I command you today. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 12 Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you. 13 Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles. 14 Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

Questions to Consider

  • If the Lord is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, why does the Lord still punish?
  • What covenant does the Lord make with the Israelites? What are His requirements?
  • What does the Lord mean when He calls himself a “Jealous” God?

Notes

  • While the Lord is slow to anger and rich in love, He is still a holy God, “a righteous judge” (Ps. 7:11), who needs to properly deal with sin, including punishing those who refuse to repent.  But, even in the midst of being punished for our sins, we never bear the brunt of it because “[God] does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities” (Ps. 103:10).    
  • The Lord promises to reveal His power and glory through the Israelites. Not only will they see God’s power, but also how He blesses the Israelites. The former reminds us that blessing is not just what God does for us, but how we can join in His work.
  • The word “jealous” does not mean envy like how we are jealous when someone has nicer things. It is a great compliment to us that God is jealous when we offer our worship to something or someone else. Who are we that our worship would matter to God of the universe! But, it does.  It is in this context we can truly grasp the jealousness of God.

Evening Reflection

Our God is a merciful God, and He desires all people to turn back to Him. While His mercy is full of kindness, there are times where He exercises discipline to wake us up. Let’s take some time to give thanks to our Father for His mercy. 

October 1, Tuesday

REPOSTToday’s AMI Devotional QT, first posted on October 2, 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

“Sin’s Vicious Cycle”

Jeremiah 41:4-8

On the day after the murder of Gedaliah, before anyone knew of it,5 eighty men arrived from Shechem and Shiloh and Samaria, with their beards shaved and their clothes torn, and their bodies gashed, bringing grain offerings and incense to present at the temple of the Lord. 6 And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah came out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he came. As he met them, he said to them, “Come in to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam.” 7 When they came into the city, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the men with him slaughtered them and cast them into a cistern.

If there was any doubt about what kind of man Ishmael was, it becomes really clear in this passage that Ishmael was not a hero.   In yesterday’s passage, we saw that Ishmael murdered Gedaliah and massacred everyone else around him—including the Babylonian soldiers—   perhaps with a sense of heroism, but definitely he was in rebellion against God.  Here, we see that Ishmael’s actions take him to a darker place as he murders these men who come to Jerusalem for no other purpose than to worship the Lord.

Ishmael probably had no intention of murdering more people when he had resolved to kill Gedaliah, but the path he was on determined his destination and his actions. The nature of sin and rebellion is like that: once we go down that path, it’s not easy to stop, repent and go in a different direction; rather, sin and rebellion begets more sin and rebellion.  There have been times in my life—and all of our lives, I’m sure—where everything started with just one white lie, that was followed by another lie to cover up the first one, then our sin went deeper and deeper, and its effect got wider and wider.  Ishmael shows us a clear example of the vicious cycle of sin—something we all have experienced.

There may be times when it feels like we are stuck in a vicious cycle of sin with no way out—but thankfully, we have hope in Jesus Christ.  As Romans 5:6 says, “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”  At the right time, Jesus came into our lives to not just stop us from going deeper into sin, but to free us completely from the vicious cycle of sin.  Let us go to the Cross of Jesus by repenting and confessing of our sins so that we could receive this freedom.  And let’s be thankful to Jesus for setting us free!

Prayer: Jesus, I pray for freedom from my sin. Thank You for coming into my life in the depth of my weakness and sin.  I pray that I can fully take hold of the freedom You have given me this day. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Job 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Galatians 5:16-23: But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Questions to Consider

  1. What are the competing desires that are within us?  
  2. What does it mean to walk by the Spirit?
  3. How are you seeing the fruits of the Spirit in your life?  What steps can you take to bear more fruit?

Notes

  1. Paul tells us that the desires of the flesh and desires of the Spirit are in direct opposition with one another.  In verses 19-21, we see what the desires of the flesh look like and then in verses 22-23, we see where the desires of the Spirit lead us.
  2. Walking by the Spirit means taking every step, living each day by faith, and following the desires of the Holy Spirit within us.  Notice that the desires of the flesh by nature are centered on the self and when we are led by ourselves and thus by the flesh, it leads to all that we see in verses 19-21.  
  3. Personal reflection.

Evening Reflection

Do you feel stuck in a cycle of sin?  If so, remember that Jesus wants to set you free!  Confess and repent of your sins, and pray for a deeper experience of freedom in Him.  If not, spend some time thanking Jesus for the freedom and victory He has given you.

September 30, Monday

REPOST Today AMI Devotional QT, first posted on September 10, 2024, is provided by Pastor David Yoon of Tapestry Church in Los Angeles. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Recalculating”

Numbers 13:30-33 

But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.”31 Then the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.”32 So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height.33 And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.”

Do you remember a time when we had to use a physical road map to find our way from one place to another? We would carry multiple foldout maps in our car’s glove compartment and could never fold it back the way it was when we purchased it. Today, with the advancement of technology, we use a navigation app on our smartphone or car’s GPS. When we miss or take a wrong turn the GPS notifies the driver, “recalculating” with an updated estimated time of arrival.

In today’s passage, Israel is on a road trip to the Promised Land—millions are traveling together. And throughout the trip we read that Israel is full of complaints, where at times, they desire to return to the life of slavery in Egypt and even built and worshipped idols, after promising God they would follow Him.  Even Miriam and Aaron, Moses’ brother and sister, began to complain about Moses’ leadership. But whenever Israel made a wrong turn, God would simply say, “recalculating.” Finally, the nation of Israel reaches its destination and sends a man from each tribe to spy out the land of Canaan. They report, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large” (Num 13:27-28). After hearing the report, the Israelites doubt God, and He in turn allows them to go their own way—the wrong way.

In our walk of faith, how many times do we take the wrong turn because of fear and doubt? God demonstrated to the people of Israel His goodness and faithfulness many times throughout the years, yet they were quick to forget His mercy and love. In Exodus, Moses proclaimed to Israel, “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” Are you facing battles in your life today? Let us hold fast to His Word and pray a prayer of faith as James writes, “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” 

Prayer: Father God, I praise You for Your abundant mercy and grace. I thank You for Your faithfulness, even though I am not as faithful to You. Will You heal my heart and help me to live each day in faith trusting in Your promises? Help me to overcome the fears and anxieties of life as I surrender my day to You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 1

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 8:31-39: What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Questions to Consider

  1. If God is for us, who can be against us?
  2. What does Paul mean when he asks: “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” 
  3. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Notes

  1. Salvation turns on the will of God, not the will of man; opposition to God from mankind will not affect the will of God.
  2. Paul is stating that it is illogical for God to give His most treasured “possession” – His only Son – for the salvation of sinners, and then not give everything else to bring salvation to completion.
  3. The world is cursed and is under the control of the evil one. There will be times when it can appear that we have been separated from the love of God. Paul wants to dispel this notion and remind believers that nothing can separate us from God’s love. 

Evening Reflection

The greatest evidence of faith is in how you love: 1 John 4:7-8, “7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” Did you reflect God’s love to those around you today? Spend time examining your day, and ask God to help you to love others as He loves you.