September 25, Wednesday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional was first posted on September 18, 2018.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Full Circle: Everything Comes Back to God”

Jeremiah 37:1-10 (NASB)

Zedekiah the son of Josiah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah, reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim. 2 But neither he nor his servants nor the people of the land listened to the words of the Lord that he spoke through Jeremiah the prophet. 3 King Zedekiah sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “Please pray for us to the Lord our God.” 4 Now Jeremiah was still going in and out among the people, for he had not yet been put in prison. 5 The army of Pharaoh had come out of Egypt. And when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard news about them, they withdrew from Jerusalem. 6 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet: 7 “Thus says the Lord, God of Israel: Thus shall you say to the king of Judah who sent you to me to inquire of me, ‘Behold, Pharaoh’s army that came to help you is about to return to Egypt, to its own land. 8 And the Chaldeans shall come back and fight against this city. They shall capture it and burn it with fire. 9 Thus says the Lord, Do not deceive yourselves, saying, “The Chaldeans will surely go away from us,” for they will not go away. 10 For even if you should defeat the whole army of Chaldeans who are fighting against you, and there remained of them only wounded men, every man in his tent, they would rise up and burn this city with fire.’”

I’ve been privileged to work closely with the pastor of my church who once challenged us by asking, “How often do we live as if God does not exist?” The absurdity of a godless worldview is so paternally obvious that Pastor Josh did not dwell on it too much; instead, he highlighted how Christians habitually succumb to the pressures of a society that has long forgotten God. As difficult as this was to hear, he rightly pointed out how often we fall short by ignoring the nudging of the Spirit to heed God and His eternal truth. 

In today’s passage, Jeremiah recounts how King Zedekiah would not listen to the word of God (v. 2). And it wasn’t until Judah was besieged that the king asked Jeremiah to pray to God on their behalf (v. 3). Essentially, only when Zedekiah’s back was against the wall did he turn to God. Christians are no different.  We are constantly buffeted by the push and pull of our secular world; and, too often, the pressures can become so great that we ignore our convictions, effectively living as if God wasn’t here. It is only when all the chips are down, like Zedekiah, that we turn to Him in submission. Everyone and everything will (Rom. 11:36). But, we ought to look to God first, rather than waiting for calamity. I pray we ponder on this together daily, reminding one another of Whom we are committed to.

We can also find comfort in the rest of the passage (Jer. 37:7-11). Here, Jeremiah receives word from God that the kingdom will be destroyed, just as previously proclaimed. God’s word will be done. Though this does not bode well for Zedekiah, the simple notion that God’s word will come to pass is most uplifting. 

And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away” (Rev. 21:3-4 [NASB]).

What could be more heartwarming than to realize what has been promised by God? Remember, regardless of the difficulties of the Christian life, God’s word is true. Everything starts and ends with Him.

This is the full circle.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the truth of Your Word. I am so thankful that I can call You my foundation. Lord, I don’t ever want to live as if You aren’t here. Please remind me every single day of who You are, so I may, in turn, reflect who You are to others in how I live. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 11

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 11:36 (NASB): “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”

Questions to Consider

  1. What does this short, yet powerful, passage mean?
  2. What does the meaning of the passage imply?
  3. Reflect your life in light of the message of this terse verse.

Notes

  1. This passage is the declaration that “all things” find their origins in, are maintained by and ultimately return to God. He is the Creator, Sustainer and Judge of everything in existence. 
  2. As the Creator of all things, God is the necessary precondition for anything to exist or occur. This includes, but is by no means limited to, the existence of the universe, life, logic, morale experience, etc. Without God at the beginning of everything, the world falls into absurdity. 
  3. Personal response

Evening Reflection

In your personal quiet time with God, consider the enormity of His power and reach as He is described in Rom. 11:36. With this in mind, reflect on the idea that, although God has this immense power and influence, He also has the temperament described in Matt. 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.”

September 24, Tuesday

REPOST Todays’ AMI Devotional QT, first posted on September 12, 2018, is written by Pastor Ryun.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Average or Ideal Man: Who Would You Like for a Friend?”*  

Proverbs 18:24

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

2 Corinthians 5:18b: 

For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Who wants to be average, right? We all have an image of the ideal “me” that serves a template for all that we do. So, here is how an average guy stacks up against the ideal guy as they both start the day: 

Charles, the ideal man, starts his day in a bathroom that is the size of a studio apartment. He grins approvingly as each shaving stroke uncovers a dashing look with no wrinkles. On the other hand, Chuck, the average guy, also begins his day in the bathroom. He doesn’t have much of a beard, so one quick lick with the old Gillette is all it takes.  Charles’ breakfast consists of French croissants with imported butter on the side and hazelnut coffee brewed on a Keurig coffee maker. He hops into his Tesla convertible and off he goes. As for Chuck, he gulps down some Honey Bunches of Oats for breakfast, then dashes off to the office in his aging Toyota Camry, dropping the kids off at school on the way.  

After a stimulating day’s work, Charles sprints to the Madison Square Club (annual membership—a cool $20,000) to give his already bulging biceps much needed workout, all in front of gigantic mirrors.  Towel around his neck, his sweat gleams and his hair is never out of place.  He smiles at a dazzling, slim brunette, doing Zumba.  After a smooth and confident introduction, the radiant couple slips off to the clubhouse bar. What a day! But what about Chuck?  Well, he goes home because he needs to take his kids to the little league, and then mows the lawn. He chuckles along with his wife and kids over supper (what, meat loaf again?), while talking mostly about how the day didn’t pan out as was hoped.  Then, he does the dishes.

Charles says, “I need to find myself,” so, he leaves his family for a younger woman, buys another Tesla—this time with wings (trust me, it’s coming) on credit—and searches for the Fountain of Youth so that he may stay young.  He is always busy doing his own thing and says that he’s sorry that he is not able to lend a hand when you were counting on him for his help. Chuck, on the other hand, sits with you after you lose your job.  He comes over when you need someone to help you move the couch.  And he will pray with you, for he is “a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Prov. 18:24). 

Folks, the world isn’t as bad as it could be because there are a lot of average men and women who don’t mind doing the little and unglamorous things (1 Cor. 4:2).  The church of God is still standing because many average men and women of God faithfully serve without much fanfare.  So, who would you rather have as a friend? Or, who would you rather be? An ideal man who can’t take his eyes off on what is seen and temporary, or a faithful person who continues to fix his eyes on what is unseen and eternal? Our ultimate ideal person is Jesus; therefore, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross and scorning its shame . . .”—imitate Him (1 Cor. 11:1).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I praise You this day for Your wonderful and continuous provisions for me and my family.  Lord, teach me “to be content whatever the circumstances” so that instead of always trying to get more, that I will share what I have with my neighbors, to let them know that You love them as well. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 10

Lunch Break Study 

Read Colossians 3:1-4: If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Questions to Consider

  1. Paul directs his words to those who are “raised with Christ…” (v.1). What does it mean to be raised with Christ?
  2. What does it mean to seek things that are above?
  3. What do you spend most of your free time thinking about? Where do you get some of the things you think about? How can you spend more time seeking God’s Word instead?

Notes

  1. Those who are raised with Christ are those who put their faith in Christ. By accepting Christ into our hearts as our Lord and Savior, we also share in His death and resurrection. 
  2. We are to set our minds, reflect on, believe, and trust in the things of God. This is made clear in the gospel, but in general, we are to seek the Word, which reveals all the things of God.
  3. These days, the ideal person gets his or her ideas from looking at social media like Instagram and Facebook. What about the average person? He or she doesn’t really have the time to sit idly in front of a small screen, thinking about ways to photoshop to make him or her look more fit and happy. What spare time they may have, they read the Bible to be reminded of Christ and His costly sacrifice on our behalf.    

Evening Reflection

Are there any areas of growth and/or victories you have gone through lately? Let’s give God thanks because we were able to do it through His power.

*The ideal man and average man comparison is loosely based on something I read in the 1980s.

September 23, Monday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on September 24, 2017, is provided by Jabez Yeo. Jabez served in Remnant Church in Manhattan for many years.   

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Suffering Servant” 

Jeremiah 7:27-28

“So you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. You shall call to them, but they will not answer you. 28 And you shall say to them, ‘This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the Lord their God, and did not accept discipline; truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips.’”

In times of prosperity, it can be easy to ignore certain warnings to one’s peril. Such was the case in the mid-2000s, when almost any American could qualify for a mortgage. Despite warnings from certain regulators and investors, the U.S. government failed to curb the excessive lending. Subsequently, America’s housing market collapsed, bankrupting many lenders and triggering a global financial crisis that lasted for years.  

Similarly, around 586 BC, the kingdom of Judah was destroyed by the Babylonians despite many warnings from the prophet—Jeremiah. While Judah was economically prosperous, there was deep spiritual decline because of the Judeans’ idolatry and disobedience. Undeterred, Jeremiah faithfully delivered God’s word to the unbelieving Judeans (Jer. 7:27-28) and to other nations (Jer. 46-51) amidst intense hardships. Consider the following about Jeremiah:

  • He was set apart as a prophet to the nations (Jer. 1:5) but preached for about 40 years without witnessing much spiritual fruit or revival.
  • He ministered to the last five kings of Judah but only one (Josiah) sincerely sought after God. The other four were either exiled or did evil (2 Chron. 36). 
  • He was instructed to remain single and did not have children to carry on his name (Jer. 16:2);
  • He endured great physical suffering, including torture (Jer. 20:2), unjust imprisonment (Jer. 37:14-15) and suffocation (Jer. 38:1-13). He was even physically abducted (Jer. 43:1-7).

Throughout this week, we will be reading Jeremiah 49-50, which contains some of Jeremiah’s prophecies to the nations. It may be tough for some of us to believe how prophecies to nations that are non-existent today apply to our personal lives. I myself struggled with writing these devotionals due to my lack of Old Testament knowledge. However, we can take comfort in the fact that these prophecies were given to a man who suffered tremendously for his faith and served as a precursor to the ultimate sufferer, Jesus Christ, the one who gave His life for us and was obedient to death (Phil. 2:5-11).  Let us trust that God will speak to us as we read His Word. 

Prayer: Father, I thank You that Your Word is applicable to our lives, just as it was to ancient civilizations throughout history. Thank You for believers like Jeremiah, who remind me that faithfulness to You and Your Word is possible even amidst great hardship. Build my life so that my character would be refined and that my faith would prove to be genuine no matter the situation. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 9

Lunch Time Study 

Read Hebrews 12:1-13: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed

Questions to Consider

1. At first glance, reading Hebrews 12:4-13 may seem especially harsh or militaristic. Why is this not so?

2. Jeremiah is surely in the great cloud of witnesses surrounding us today (Heb. 12:1). How can we persevere as he did?

3. Who are the witnesses in your life (living or dead) that you can gain encouragement from?

Note

1. Context is key. We are given these commands because there have been others who exhibited faith even in severe situations (Heb. 11). Furthermore, we are told that these same saints surround us today (Heb. 12:1), and that Christ Himself is at the right hand of God the Father (Heb. 12:2), interceding for us (Rom. 8:34). Thus, we are not running the race of faith alone.

2. The author encourages us to fix our eyes on Christ, just as Christ gained encouragement through remembering the joy set before Him during intense suffering (Heb. 12:2). We need to remind ourselves of the gospel each day, no matter what. 

3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection 

What setbacks did you face today? How did these events remind you about who’s really in control? Pray that God would help you surrender what is necessary so that your faith would be made stronger. 

September 22, Sunday

REPOSTToday’s AMI Devotional, first posted on August 13, 2017,  is written by Mei Lan Thallman.  Mei Lan served faithfully at Grace Covenant Church in Philadelphia for many years. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“He Restores My Soul”

James 4:7-10 

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

At the beginning of this summer, I felt wearied and fatigued, like a car that has been on a long distance nonstop travel.  My physical and emotional tanks were running on empty, warning lights flashing on all core components of my personhood.  After sending the kids to their grandparents’ farm for a week, I told my husband that I desperately needed an extended personal time with Jesus.

For three days I simply took the time to draw near in His presence through music, prayer, reading His word and lying prostrate on the floor in my living room.  Jesus faithfully and graciously met me where I was with His very presence.  He met me in the deepest recess of my soul and spirit as only He could.  I felt the Holy Spirit ministering to me so deeply that I had no words to respond, but simply surrendered to the flows of deep groaning with buckets of tears.  He was with me and He was restoring my soul.  

During those three days of personal retreat with Jesus, I kept on remembering the tender account of God’s providential care for the prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 19.  After experiencing God’s supernatural empowerment to defeat 450 false prophets of Baal and ending  3½ years of severe drought, Elijah’s battle weariness led him into a time of isolation, depression and self-pity.

Like a loving mother tenderly caring for her embittered and discouraged child, God met Elijah’s complaint and fatigue by sending angels repeatedly to provide him food and rest.  He simply loved on Elijah and restored him from the inside out. After being reminded and reaffirmed of where he belonged, Elijah was ready to continue the race with God.

Do you need to be reminded today of who you are and whose vessel you are?  Do you need to be reassured of His love for yourself and experience his restoration power?  Come to Him as you are and linger in His presence.  Come taste and see for yourself the goodness and sweetness of your Heavenly Father.

Prayer:  Father God, No one knows me like you and no one loves me and is able to meet my deepest needs like you. No one can restore me like you can. Please forgive me for substituting other people, things, activities and accomplishments to meet the needs of my soul.  Help me daily to draw near you and allow you to satisfy my needy soul.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 8

September 21, Saturday

REPOSTToday’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on July 30, 2017, is provided by Jennifer Kim who served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

Psalm 100:1-5

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 3 Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! 5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations

Two months into my one-year term in Shanghai, our church was wrapping up our weekly Sunday service when the police raided our church. As the police rushed into our meeting, our members did their best to make it appear like we were simply having a casual gathering; however, the police knew exactly what we were doing and immediately ordered us to stop. With my heart pounding in shock, I looked at the worried faces of the locals and the leadership, and it was in that moment when I finally began to understand what it meant that there’s a cost in following Jesus.

Upon David’s anointing to lead the chosen nation of Israel, King David’s life was filled with persecution. Right after he is anointed king, David defeats the great Philistine warrior, Goliath, and the women of the city sing a victory song that sings, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands” (1 Sam. 18:7). It is a great, momentous moment; however, the minute Saul hears this song, it sets David up, for the next fifteen years of his life, to be on the run because Saul is jealous of the throne. It’s hard to see this as a coincidence that the moment David chooses to obey God’s call, he begins to face immense persecution. Nonetheless, King David, amidst all the turmoil, writes psalms of thanksgiving and worship to the Lord.

The apostles throughout the New Testament warn us that when we choose to follow after Christ, there will be a cost. But because we know that the “Lord is good, his loving-kindness is everlasting, and his faithfulness is to all generations” (Psalm 100:4-5), we can “shout joyfully to the Lord, serve the Lord with gladness; [and] come before Him with joyful singing” (Psalm 100:1-2).

Through the grace of God, none of our missionaries were sent back to the US and none of our members were flagged; however, we had to increase our security, take extra precaution, and scrounge around for a new place to meet for worship. Through divine connection the Lord provided us with a meeting place the following Sunday in a small garment shop where we had to fill every nook and cranny with chairs to fit everyone in; nevertheless, the worship that Sunday was one of the most powerful worship services we ever had. There was certainly a cost for our members to attend our church and follow after Jesus, yet they chose to proclaim the goodness and faithfulness of God and worshipped with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Today, on the Lord’s Day, no matter what struggle you are facing, whatever circumstance you are in, or whatever persecution you are enduring, I want to encourage you to remember God’s faithfulness in your life and His loving-kindness to you so that you can give full worship and thanksgiving to the Lord who is faithful.

Prayer: God, thank You for Your everlasting love and faithfulness that brought me from death to life. Help me to remember all that you have done in my life so that I may give thanksgiving and worship to You no matter the circumstance, for You are worthy of all praise, glory, and honor. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 6-7

September 20, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional, first posted on September 21, 2018, is written by Jin Ha Lee. Jin, a graduate of Drexel University, had served at Grace Covenant Church in Philadelphia for many years.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Listening Ear”

Jeremiah 38:17-20

Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “Thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: If you will surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then your life shall be spared, and this city shall not be burned with fire, and you and your house shall live. 18 But if you do not surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then this city shall be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and you shall not escape from their hand.” 19 King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am afraid of the Judeans who have deserted to the Chaldeans, lest I be handed over to them and they deal cruelly with me.” 20 Jeremiah said, “You shall not be given to them. Obey now the voice of the Lord in what I say to you, and it shall be well with you, and your life shall be spared.” 

There was a season in my life when I sought advice from many different older brothers and sisters—I would go to this person to get his advice, call this person to get her perspective, and on-and-on. But, I had a problem. In going to many people, I wasn’t really hearing what they were saying, but I was looking for people to give the answer I wanted to hear.

King Zedekiah was had a similar problem. He sought Jeremiah for God’s Word multiple times and even heard what God said, yet he lacked faith. King Zedekiah was not seeking after an answer from the Lord to direct the course of his life—though he cared enough to seek it—but not enough to respond in faith to it.

The context of this passage was that the Babylonians had been temporarily deterred by the Egyptians. It was only a matter of time before the Babylonians would be at his doorsteps. In desperation Zedekiah sought out Jeremiah—again. Jeremiah gave a clear answer from the Lord: “…if you surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then your life shall be spared, and this city shall not be burned with fire, and you and your house shall live….” It was actually a very gracious response to the mess that Zedekiah created by rebelling against Nebuchadnezzar who had set Zedekiah as king. He had the chance to save not only his life but his family and the city.

However, Zedekiah immediately responds that he’s scared of the deserters mistreating him. Maybe he felt that the Israelites would be upset at him and blame him for the loss, or he felt embarrassed for starting a conflict with the Babylonians that he couldn’t win. In any case, his fears spoke more loudly in his heart than God’s Word. He focused so much on his fears that he missed out on the chance to respond to God’s Word.

Going back to my story, the situation I was trying to handle blew up.  But through that experience I was humbled and learned to seek what God has to say through godly counsel more than what I wanted to hear. It was a very valuable lesson! Let’s ask ourselves this question:  Am I truly ready to listen and respond to God in faith when God speaks to me? Or am I just going to ignore His word if it’s not what I want to hear?

Prayer: Lord, we want to listen intently to Your Word. Would You please reveal Yourself to us and help us to know You intimately? Please help us to respond in faith, knowing that You are holy, loving, and good. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 5

Lunch Break Study

Read Acts 18:9-10: And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” 11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. 

2 Corinthians 12:9-10: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Questions to Consider

  1. How did God reveal Himself to Paul during the hardships of missions?
  2. What does Paul’s response show about what he believes about God?
  3. How can we live by faith despite our fears or difficult scenarios?

Note

  1. God revealed Himself by encouraging Paul in a vision. He told Paul not be afraid but to continue his mission for the gospel, knowing that God is with him and that He would protect him.  God also let Paul know that he was not alone but surrounded by believers. Up to this point Paul had already been persecuted by the Jews from Thessalonica who chased him out of Thessalonica and Berea.
  2. Paul believed in the Lord and stayed at the city for one year and six months; he had faith that the Lord was with him. His response in 2 Corinthians showed that he believed that God’s grace was sufficient for him, even in difficulties and weaknesses.
  3. Personal response. Zedekiah focused so much on his fears, instead of trusting in God, whereas, though Paul also faced difficult and costly situations throughout his mission trips, he focused on the Lord. Both of their actions showed where their faith was. I don’t think faith is a matter of rolling up our sleeves and blindly jumping headlong into situations in our own strength. Certain situations have legitimate concerns, costs, and fears. But, spending time with the Lord, seeking Him, being in an intimate relationship with Him and the church helps us to move forward in faith by His encouragement, grace, and love. We can ask God to show us and remind us of who He is, and that we could look at Him rightly and step forward despite the fears, difficulties, and weaknesses.

Evening Reflection

How has the Lord revealed Himself to you recently? Although different situations we face may bring about fear, hardship, or even apathy, we can find rest, strength, and joy in the Lord. Let’s ask the Lord to reveal Himself to us, and that we would grow in an intimate and genuine relationship with Him.

September 19, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI Quiet Time, first posted on September 19, 2018, is provided by Pastor Peter Yoon who is the lead pastor of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Thank the Lord for Timely Friends”

Jeremiah 38:7-13 (NIV)

But Ebed-Melek, a Cushite, an official in the royal palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. While the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate, 8 Ebed-Melek went out of the palace and said to him, 9 “My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have thrown him into a cistern, where he will starve to death when there is no longer any bread in the city.” 10 Then the king commanded Ebed-Melek the Cushite, “Take thirty men from here with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”11 So Ebed-Melek took the men with him and went to a room under the treasury in the palace. He took some old rags and worn-out clothes from there and let them down with ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern. 12 Ebed-Melek the Cushite said to Jeremiah, “Put these old rags and worn-out clothes under your arms to pad the ropes.” Jeremiah did so, 13 and they pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.

Our family recently moved into a new place—but not without some resistance from our children. In our previous home, our children had developed lots of friendships around the neighborhood. They spent hours and hours with friends engaging in all sorts of fun activities, but in moving into a new home, my kids (particularly our 4th grade son, Nathan) knew that they’d have to start anew the daunting task of making new friends. Soon enough, as our boys began to explore the new neighborhood, they met few other boys who were just as interested in sports, video games, …sports, video games…and more sports and video games. =)  That afternoon, Nathan came back home with a big smile on his face and said to me, “Dad, Nick and Tommy are my friends now.” There’s something about good friendships that even children know to value in life. 

In this passage, Jeremiah was thrown into a well by the city’s officials. He had been warning of the impending doom of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonian Empire. God had revealed that the only chance for survival was to surrender. The public officials did not want the Jews to listen to Jeremiah’s prophecies, although the words came from God. So they approached King Zedekiah to obtain a permission to put away Jeremiah. The king, perhaps in despair or fear, barely raises any concern and says: “The king can do nothing to oppose you.” And the officials immediately arrest Jeremiah and leave him at the bottom of a well to die of starvation. Jeremiah was in a bleak and hopeless situation. 

However, God sends a “friend,” a Cushite, to foil the plans of the officials and rescues Jeremiah from the well (see https://www.gotquestions.org/Cushites.html). The Cushite could have been severely punished by King Zedekiah for going against the wishes of the officials as well as the king’s permission to put away Jeremiah. With courage, the Cushite changes the mind of the king and carries out a rescue plan in lifting Jeremiah out of the well.

At times, God sends a timely friend. This “friend” might not be someone who is popular with the crowds, nor wealthy. This “friend” might even have been overlooked as an insignificant person. Yet, their timely presence and the encouragement he/she brings may perhaps be the difference between despair and hope. 

Today, I’d like to encourage you to be that “friend” to others. 

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for the friendships in my own life. But today, lead me in extending Your friendship to those around me in my workplace, school, church, neighborhood, etc. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 4

Lunch Break Study

Read John 15:12-17 (NIV): My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

Questions to Consider

  1. What qualities does Jesus highlight in defining a friendship?  
  2. What separates a mere servant from a friend in God’s Kingdom? 
  3. What comparison does Jesus use in describing how we are to love others? 

Notes

  1. Jesus highlights the quality of laying down one’s life. He also highlights obedience to the command of loving others. 
  2. A servant is outside of God’s business plans, while a friend has been invited into knowing everything that Jesus had learned from the Father. 
  3. Jesus says that we are to love others as “I have loved you.” It’s a tall order. However, when the Spirit of Christ dwells in your heart, you are moved to love others as Jesus has loved us. 

Evening Reflection

How are you being a friend to those around you these days? In what practical ways can you show your friendship and encouragement to few people in your own life? 

September 18, Wednesday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on September 17, 2018, is written by Esther Chailim. Esther, who serves at Kairos Christian Church in San Diego, is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (MA).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Heart of Prayer”

Jeremiah 37:1-8

“Zedekiah son of Josiah was made king of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; he reigned in place of Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim.2 Neither he nor his attendants nor the people of the land paid any attention to the words the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet. 3 King Zedekiah, however, sent Jehukal son of Shelemiah with the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to Jeremiah the prophet with this message: “Please pray to the Lord our God for us.” 4 Now Jeremiah was free to come and go among the people, for he had not yet been put in prison. 5 Pharaoh’s army had marched out of Egypt, and when the Babylonians who were besieging Jerusalem heard the report about them, they withdrew from Jerusalem. 6 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet: 7 “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of me, ‘Pharaoh’s army, which has marched out to support you, will go back to its own land, to Egypt. 8 Then the Babylonians will return and attack this city; they will capture it and burn it down.’”

As a teenager, I went through a rebellious stage and took out my frustration and bitterness on my mother.  Sadly, this ultimately put a strain in our relationship for years to follow.  However, several years after I became a believer, the Lord stirred my heart to pray for our relationship to heal.  Living 100 miles apart, I thought this was the least I could do. So, I began to pray for my mom’s salvation and for our relationship to be restored. I prayed that God would soften her heart so that she could know Jesus.  I prayed that God would give me patience and help me to love her as Christ loves her.  I prayed that somehow, He would miraculously heal our relationship.  But, as time passed, the tension in our relationship only deepened.  After visits home to see my mom, feelings of guilt arose as I realized how quickly I got agitated over miniscule things. Frustrated, I thought, “God, why aren’t you answering my prayers?  Why isn’t our relationship changing?  I don’t understand!” 

One day, as my mom and I were taking a stroll in the park, we got into a heated disagreement, leaving me feeling pretty down.  We parted ways and once again, I was left feeling both upset and guilty. Later that week, I felt the Lord pierce my heart where it hurt the most: my pride.  He revealed to me that my attitude towards my mom was sinful because up until that point, I had always felt justified in my actions towards her. And though I felt guilty, I wasn’t willing to let all the past hurts go.  In short, He revealed a new depth of my sin that I had never realized. 

In the passage today, we read about King Zedekiah asking Jeremiah for prayer. Threat was upon the king, and he was desperate for help.  Though the Lord had already prophesied Babylon’s defeat over Jerusalem (Jer. 21:4-7), Zedekiah ignored the Lord and still pleaded for a favorable outcome.  The problem is that the king was looking for circumstantial change, but unwilling to submit himself to hear from God (v. 2).  In turn, God did not answer Zedekiah’s prayer. 

My prayers for my mom, though earnest and seemingly “holy,” were no different than Zedekiah’s prayer.  In truth, I wanted my circumstances, that is, my mom, to change, but I wasn’t positioning myself to hear what God wanted to reveal about me.  It wasn’t until God disclosed my sin that I was able to finally hear from God and repent of my bitterness, judgement and pride.  Then, and only then, did I truly begin to see my relationship with my mom change; not because SHE changed, but because God changed me.  

Often times, we subconsciously come to prayer with a set agenda.  We pray for people and things to change, and yet we forget that we need to be changed. I still struggle with this, but more and more, I realize that prayer is not about changing circumstance; prayer is about changing us.  The question is, do we allow God to mold and shape us through prayer?  

Prayer:  Lord, You are in control, not me.  Help me to lay aside my own plans and surrender them to You.  I invite You, Holy Spirit, to come and speak into the areas of my life that are self-seeking. Help me to be God-centered and continue to shape and mold me to be more like Jesus. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 3

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 66:16-20: “Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. 17 I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. 18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; 19 but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. 20 Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!

Questions to Consider

  1. How can we posture ourselves in prayer? 
  2. What is one reason God does not answer prayer? 
  3. In respect to #2, does this mean that we have to be sinless for God to hear my prayers? 

Notes

  1. One way we can posture ourselves in prayer is to have reverence for God, acknowledging that He is the one in control and we are subject to His good will and purpose. Secondly, we can posture ourselves with praise on our tongues.
  2. King David reveals that one hindrance in God’s willingness to hear our prayers is when we continue to walk in sin and do not repent of those sins. We can’t live a consistently sinful lifestyle and expect God to hear our prayers. 
  3. In verse 18, David uses the phrase, “if I had cherished sin.”  Though it is true that we are sinners, even after we become Christians, David’s use of the word “cherished” indicates the kind of sin we hold on to and are unwilling to let go of.  God isn’t expecting us to be sinless, but He does call us to face our sins and confess them. 

Evening Reflection

Reflect on some of the things you are currently praying for.  Ask yourself if you are having a right heart posture as you pray for these things?  Are you allowing God to speak to you and change you, or are you just praying for circumstances to change?  Take some time to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal your heart motive.  

September 17, Tuesday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted March 6, 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

“The Wilderness”

Mark 1:9-15 (ESV)

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” 12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. 14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” 

Each of the four Gospels begins with differing point of views and emphasis according to each author and audience.  The Gospel of Mark begins the story of Jesus Christ, not by tracing His genealogy down a long list of names or even going back to a certain point in time, but it begins with a location.  From the vantage point of this particular Gospel, I believe the Spirit of God is interested in teaching us that the gospel had its beginnings in the wilderness.   And as we recognize this theme being played out here in this first chapter of Mark, we need to ask ourselves what is the significance of the wilderness.

First, the wilderness represents a separation from the world and a departure from the ungodliness of men.  If you have ever gone camping in a very remote location, you will be amazed by the difference that you feel.  I remember taking a youth group out to the Sequoia National Forest and taking them to a trailhead at the highest elevation, and hiking in about 15 miles into this very remote camping site.  There was no water, no lights, no phone service, and no people.  During the three days we were there, I felt utterly separated from the world.  In a similar way, when you receive the gospel, you realize that it calls you out of the world, away from its distractions, and away from its sin.

Second, the wilderness represents a place of new beginnings and a place of hope.  In the early part of American history, many people went out West into the wilderness in order to start life anew.  Most of the people that moved West, into the unknown frontier, came from the poorer class of American society.  The rich and the elite had no reason to go out into the wilderness, but for the poor, the discouraged, and those without hope, the wilderness represented a place of great opportunity—a chance for a new beginning.   The gospel represents exactly the same thing for every single person who believes.  It holds out for us the promise of a new beginning, a reason to hope. 

Finally, the wilderness represents a place of intimacy with God and restoration of our relationship with Him.  The Scriptures present the wilderness with a sense of romantic nostalgia—a harsh and dangerous place, yet a place where God’s people were wholly dependent on Him.  Oftentimes when you look at things in hindsight, you focus on the good and overlook the bad.  This is essentially what God does with His people’s time in the wilderness.  In passages like Jeremiah 2:2, God remembers with fondness the close relationship that He had with His people and states, “I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness.”  There is a special place in God’s heart for our seasons in the wilderness, because it’s the place where He first courted us, and where we first learned to respond to His love by following Him with a simple devotion.   This morning, if you are going through a personal time in the wilderness, count it a blessing! 

Prayer: Father, as Your Spirit led Your Son into the wilderness, we know that You will lead us into our own times in the wilderness.  Help us to see that it is because of Your great love for us that You bring us into these seasons of our lives.  In those times, give us the strength to overcome the sins of the world, the faith to believe in new beginnings, and the courage to depend solely on Your love.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Nehemiah 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Hosea 2:14-20 (ESV): “Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. 15 And there I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt. 16 And in that day, declares the Lord, you will call me ‘My Husband,’ and no longer will you call me ‘My Baal.’ 17 For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be remembered by name no more. 18 And I will make for them a covenant on that day with the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land, and I will make you lie down in safety. 19 And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. 20 I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord.”

Questions to Consider

  1. Why does God desire to draw His people back into the wilderness?
  2. What is the significance of the Valley of Achor?
  3. What are the conditions of the New Covenant with God?

Notes

  1. The reason why God allures his people back to the wilderness is for the sake of love.  Even though we give Him no reason to offer us redemption, but, in fact, give Him every reason to reject us, God grants His salvation to people for reasons that are entirely found within His own heart.    
  2. The Valley of Achor is where Achan was stoned to death for rebelling against God by taking the loot from the conquest of Jericho in Joshua 7.  This act of greed was explicitly forbidden by God and it brought on His wrath.  In calling the Valley of Achor a door of hope, God is reversing the curse of disobedience and in the place of trouble; He offers hope.     
  3. The condition of our New Covenant with God is to be betrothed to Him in righteousness and justice, and with steadfast love and mercy.  As you can see, all of these requirements are provided by God and is the bride-price paid by Christ’s death on the cross.  The seal of the New Covenant is God’s faithfulness—which ensures that each of these requirements will be met by God Himself.       

Evening Reflection

How has God revealed His love for you today?  Take time to consider how God draws us to Himself during the course of our daily lives.  Did you take time to respond to God’s love when you sensed Him calling?  Allow God’s kindness to lead you to a time of repentance.  

September 16, Monday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on December 26, 2017, is provided by Phillip Chen who is associate pastor at Kairos Christian Church in San Diego. Phil is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Circle of Lies”

Genesis 31:17-21 (ESV)

So Jacob arose and set his sons and his wives on camels. 18 He drove away all his livestock, all his property that he had gained, the livestock in his possession that he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac. 19 Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father’s household gods. 20 And Jacob tricked Laban the Aramean, by not telling him that he intended to flee. 21 He fled with all that he had and arose and crossed the Euphrates,  and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead.

In Quantico, a TV show that I recently started watching, the setting of the story is at The Farm—a covert training facility for the CIA, where the CIA operative recruits are trained to deceive others and develop alternative personalities for their missions. It’s insane to think that there are people who can be so skilled at deception, to the point where you could not tell their true story from their cover story. Though you and I may not be professional liars, it’s probably fair to say that we’ve told our share of white lies. 

As we continue on in this story, Jacob is currently fleeing from Laban; he deceives Laban by not telling him that he intended to flee. However, after a few days, Laban is told that Jacob had fled, so he takes his people and chases after him for seven days and finally catches up to Jacob. Laban is furious at Jacob, and in their confrontation, he mentions that he is most angry that Jacob had stolen his household gods. Jacob denies it, but little does he know that Rachel had stolen the household gods as they were leaving. Let’s call it as it is—this is a messed up family! There is so much deceit involved. If you recall, in Genesis 29, Jacob serves seven years for Rachel’s hand in marriage, but finds out that Laban has deceived him by giving him Leah instead. Thus, he works another seven years for Rachel. Laban deceives Jacob, Jacob deceives Laban, Rachel deceives both Jacob and Laban—the cycle of deception never seems to end.

This passage is a reflection of the ugliness of human sin that breeds distrust and deception. We have seen the destructive nature of deceitfulness and can even share firsthand of experiences in our own relationships with those around us. In fact, it seems as if many of us are unable to share vulnerably and openly with others in the family of God, because of the distrust and deception we might have experienced within our own churches. It might even seem hopeless, as this is human nature, but nevertheless, we have hope in the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.

In light of this Christmas season, we look to Jesus—who “committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:22).  This Jesus was the perfect man who died on our behalf, so that we would have His Spirit of Truth dwell within us, compelling us to live a life of truth rather than deceit. 

Prayer: Father God, I ask that Your Holy Spirit purify my lips, that I may be a voice of truth rather than a voice of deceit. Help me to be one who speaks the truth in love, modeling after Your Son Jesus. In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 1

Lunch Break Study

Read John 16:13-15 (ESV): When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Question to Consider

1. Read John 16:1-15:  what is the context and setting of this passage?

2. Why is the Holy Spirit described as the “Spirit of truth”? 

3. What truth is the Spirit trying to remind you as we reach the end of 2017?

Notes

1. Jesus is nearing the end of his earthly ministry and is preparing His disciples for what is to come. He is telling them of this Spirit whom they would receive in place of Him—a Helper who would be the exact same help that Jesus was to them.   

2. I think there lies a deep meaning in the fact that the Holy Spirit is referred to as the Spirit of truth, whereas Satan is referred to as the Father of lies. The Holy Spirit leads us in truth and speaks truth to those that will hear, whereas Satan’s aim is to lie and deceive.   

3. Personal response

Evening Reflection

What are ways that you have hurt others or been hurt by others through deception? If anyone or any situation comes to mind, ask God to give you the courage and strength to reconcile with others. Allow the Spirit of Truth to speak freely into the situation.