September 11, Wednesday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on September 11, 2018, is provided by Pastor David Yoon. David served as the executive pastor at Tapestry Church, Los Angeles. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Step of Faith”

2 Kings 5:8-14

“But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.”9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.”11 But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.13 But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.”

When I was 13 years old, I went on my first short term mission trip to China and South Korea. Towards the end of our trip, we visited a memorial for Reverend Son Yang-won. Rev. Son is remembered as a martyr of love who embraced the burden of colonial oppression and war. At his memorial, I saw a large painting of Rev. Son embracing the communist soldier who killed his two sons whom he later adopted. But the painting that really caught my attention was the one that showed Rev. Son removing blood from the infected wounds of lepers with his mouth. I had learned about leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, in Sunday school but it was my first time seeing how terrible the disease was. The paintings and the love of Christ that was practiced by Rev. Son would leave a lasting impression on my life. 

In today’s passage, we read about Naaman, a great commander of the Syrian army, who had wealth, power, and popularity. But one day, a physician told him what no person would want to hear: “You have leprosy.” In those days, leprosy, a highly contagious disease, had no cure. 

However, a little Israelite girl, who served his wife, tells Naaman about Elisha, a prophet in Samaria who could cure him. Entrusting her words, Naaman goes to Elisha’s house, but he is enraged when the prophet has his servant tell the general to wash himself in the river Jordan seven times. In response Naaman becomes resentful but why? Is he merely being prideful?  Certainly so but have you considered this: The moment this proud general takes off his armor, everyone can see his disfigured flesh—the source of his deepest pain and shame. This is to say, everyone around Naaman who respected this mighty warrior would see him in his weakest state—naked and diseased.

Many of us can relate to Naaman because we, too, have deep pains we would rather keep hidden—the very wounds we have tried to mask with different remedies (e.g., success, accomplishment, relationships, etc.) so that others around us cannot see them. In light of this, let us hear the words of Christ, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” May we take a step of faith and ask the Great Physician to come into the deep crevices of our wounds—to bring healing, restoration, and renewal. 

Prayer: Father God, thank You for always being patient with me even when I am stubborn in my own ways. May I humble myself today and come before You just as I am. I ask that You heal my pain and brokenness. Allow me to be sensitive to Your leading today and give me the strength and courage to uproot whatever is preventing me from experiencing Your peace and joy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Mark 11

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

Questions to Consider

  1. How is our inner self being renewed day by day?
  2. How can Paul say that his momentary affliction is light?
  3. What should we fix our eyes on?

Notes

  1. On a physical level, we are all moving toward death. As we wait for our physical existence to be renewed when Christ returns, Paul writes that day by day, the ministry of the Holy Spirit is renewing our inward self.
  2. Paul is writing that the difficulties of this life are minor when compared to the weight of our eternal salvation.
  3. Paul writes that we should focus our eyes on what is unseen—our future salvation in Christ.

Evening Reflection

Ask the Holy Spirit to renew your heart and spirit. The enemy will use fear and fatigue for us to lose heart. Ephesians 6:10-11 says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” 

September 10, Tuesday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on April 17, 2018, is provided by Pastor Andrew Kim who pastors the Alive Church in Montreal, Canada. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Cleansing”

Mark 11:15-19 

And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 16 And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” 18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. 19 And when evening came they went out of the city.

The story of Jesus cleansing the temple has always been one of my favorite stories in the Gospels. It’s a picture of Jesus unlike any other. Oftentimes, we imagine Jesus to be someone who is always peaceful and calm, and yet, here, in Mark we see a display of Jesus’ anger—not only communicated through words, but by the overturning of tables and physically driving people out of the temple! I remember being shocked when I first read about the temple cleansing. Was Jesus even allowed to react this way? Why is this story in the Gospel accounts? 

However, when we study the text closely, we see that it was an appropriate reaction. The question that must be posed is, “What made Jesus so angry?” Many of us point to the fact that there was a marketplace set up in the temple courts. Since it is the house of God, commercial activity would be inappropriate. Others suggest that a marketplace was necessary, because people had to buy animals to offer their sacrifices; but what angered Jesus was the unjust manner in which business was done by the temple officials. I would suggest that these conclusions are only half-correct. 

When we read Jesus’ response in verse 17, we are offered a clue to the reason for His anger. He says, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’?” Here Jesus is quoting Isaiah 56:7, which prophetically spoke of a day when people from all nations would be gathered in the temple of God as His people. In other words, salvation would be offered even to those outside of the nation of Israel. You see, the original vocation of the Jews was not to enjoy the blessings of God by themselves but to be a conduit of those blessings to the world around them—that people might proclaim Yahweh as God. This was the purpose of the Abrahamic covenant. 

 However, instead of living into that vocation, they were setting up a noisy marketplace in the only area of the temple where Gentiles were allowed to worship. Instead of cultivating an atmosphere conducive for people from all nations to encounter the living God, they were using it as a place of commerce. In other words, instead of a house of prayer for all nations, they turned it into a den of robbers.

Simply put, Jesus was angered by Israel’s failure to live out their calling to be the light to the nations. His anger was fueled by His passion for missions; it was something taken extremely seriously by Jesus. And the question we have to ask ourselves is, “Do we have the same passion for God’s mission? Have we also forgotten our vocation to be the light to the nations as the church?” Just like Israel, many of us have often neglected this calling. It only becomes a focal point of our lives during the summer when we venture out with our short-term mission teams. However, we must remember that we have been saved by God to be a light to those around us. Let us remember this calling and not neglect it like Israel! Let us pray and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who do not know Him all the days of our lives!

Prayer: Father, forgive me for neglecting the calling You have given me as a missionary. Help me to live out this vocation faithfully and to have a heart for those who are far away from You. 

Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Mark 10

Lunch Break Study 

Read 1 Peter 2:9-10: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Questions to Consider 

  1. What is the reason that God has called and saved His people? 
  2. Have you lived out your identity as someone that is part of the royal priesthood and holy nation? 

Notes 

  1. He called and saved His people to proclaim the excellencies of Him. Our salvation is not only for our own benefit, but He has given us a vocation to proclaim and share the gospel message to the world around us—to tell the story of God calling people out of darkness into His marvelous light. 
  2. Personal response.

Evening Reflection 

Consider this statement made by Leslie Newbigin, a missionary from England who serviced in India for forty years: 

“Mission begins with a kind of explosion of joy. The news that the rejected and crucified Jesus is alive is something that cannot possibly be suppressed. It must be told. Who could be silent about such a fact? The mission of the Church in the pages of the New Testament is like the fallout from a vast explosion, a radioactive fallout which is not lethal but life-giving.” 

September 9, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on January 8, 2018, is written by Tina Pham who, along with her family, is serving in E. Asia as a missionary. Tina is a graduate of Biola University (BA) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Way of Escape”

Genesis 35:1-5 (NASB)

Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and live there, and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” 2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves and change your garments; 3 and let us arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever, I have gone.” 4 So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which they had and the rings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the oak which was near Shechem. 5 As they journeyed, there was a great terror upon the cities which were around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.

Jacob and his family had settled in Shechem after purchasing some land from the sons of Hamor. As they dwelled inside the land of Canaan, they quickly become vulnerable to attack by the surrounding cities because Jacob’s sons deceitfully killed the men of Shechem and plundered their wealth as a revenge towards Shechem, who defiled their sister, Dinah (Gen. 34). Jacob needed to problem-solve and figure out a way of escape for his family.

By chapter 35, we begin to observe small steps of Jacob’s transformation and the new way in which he reacts to circumstances. The turning point for Jacob was in the previous chapters—  when the Lord personally appeared to him at Bethel when he was in distress about meeting Esau (Gen. 32), and when he received mercy from Esau at their reunion (Gen. 33). Although he would still face sinfulness in himself and in his sons later on, Jacob was becoming different in that he began to look toGod in his circumstances. He knew by experience that God is the source of all blessings and that He is merciful. By looking to God, he got rid of other sources of security and safety—such as the foreign gods—so that he could place his trust fully in God, from whom all blessings flow. 

In trying to remedy his sons’ mistake, he didn’t flee, deceive others, or problem-solve with his own rationale like he did in the past; instead, he listened to the Lord, who told him to move and to prepare a place of worship at Bethel. This time he knew the answer was to look to God, “who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.” God provided a right way of escape for Jacob—the “escape” was to worship God.  And God indeed protected Jacob and his sons from the surrounding cities.  

This morning, let’s invite God to be the source of wisdom and insight in all our circumstances, so that we may react to situation with faith instead of fear or self-dependency.

Prayer: Dear Father, I thank You and I celebrate the small victories You give me in my growth and walk with You. As I continue to encounter circumstances that cause me to react with fear or worry, remind me to look to You and to earnestly seek You, because You have always answered me in my distress and have been with me wherever I have gone. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Mark 9

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Corinthians 10:13-14. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

Questions to Consider

1. Why is Paul giving the Corinthians this encouragement and warning?

2. How does Paul describe God’s faithfulness?

3. What is idolatry?

Notes

1. In the context of this passage, Paul tells the Corinthians of Israel’s history of displeasing God, in their acts of idolatry, immorality, testing God, and grumbling. His point is that Israel’s history was written down in the Old Testament for our instruction, so that we may be aware that our struggles with temptation are common, and that people in all generations struggle with common trials. This is supposed to encourage us as well as to exhort us to actively overcome these temptations.  

2. In our trials and temptations, we may humanly feel that they are beyond what we can handle, but from God’s point of view, He is able to provide you the way of escape and to teach you how to endure it. He is faithful to help you become an overcomer!

3. Idolatry is anything in our hearts that replaces our security and trust in God. It could be a material thing, but also be way of thinking or impure desires.

Evening Reflection

Tonight, reflect on the word “arise.” Often, Jesus used the verb “arise” to command the sick to receive His healing and to instruct His servants to go on a mission. God called Jacob to arise as well and to take a step of faith towards Him. How is the Lord leading you to arise and to do His will? 

September 8, Sunday

REPOST  Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on June 25, 2017, is provided by Pastor Joshua Kim. Joshua, a graduate of Emory University, Columbia Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Talbot Theological Seminary (Th.M.), is the Lead Pastor of Upper Room Seattle church.  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The Irrefutable Difference between the Wisdom of God and the Ways of the World”

Revelation 10:8-11

Then the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard again speaking with me, and saying, “Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.” 9 So I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. And he *said to me, “Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” 10 I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. 11 And they *said to me, “You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”

I love listening to Podcasts. If you ask the staff here at Southland, they’ll tell you that I’m often sharing with them about the different things that I learned through a recent episode of this Podcast and that. In fact, I have often referred to things that I have learned on Podcasts in some of the quiet times I have written for this blog. But one thing that has always been in the back of my mind is really thinking about the kind of information that I am absorbing. It is probably no surprise to you that many of the Podcast programs that are available today present things in a very humanistic kind of way that lacks the fear of God. Unless you are careful, you can easily find yourself agreeing with certain agendas that stand in opposition to the truth of God. 

In today’s passage, we see something that has happened to other prophets before. Jeremiah and Ezekiel also had similar experiences where they are commanded by God to eat the words of God.  Both recount that the words were sweet like honey in their mouths; John’s experience was a little different. The word of God tastes sweet in his mouth but becomes bitter in his stomach. 

This experience of John points our attention to the irrefutable difference between the wisdom of God and the ways of the world. The word of God is delightful and sweet to those who are under the grace of Jesus Christ, but those same word is a message of condemnation and judgment to those who are resistant to Christ (2 Cor. 2:15-6).

And the command comes to John in the midst of the bitterness in his stomach: You must prophesy again. I believe that this command is for us as well. To try to harmonize the ways of the world and the ways of God is an impossible task—the two stand in utter opposition to one another. And there comes a time in the life of a Christian when he must declare the “whole will of God” (Acts 20:27), even if it is bitter to those that are recipients of that condemnation. The good news of Jesus Christ is not a popular message. 

There is something that is very important here to note: John is experiencing the bitterness in his stomach, deep inside himself. And this detail shows the kind of compassion we are to have when declaring the word of God. Perhaps this is similar to the turning from within that Jesus experienced when He saw the crowds without a shepherd. 

Brothers and sisters, may we be the church that will always stand firm on the truth of God, knowing that the ways of this world stand in opposition to this truth. But may we also be the church that delivers this truth with compassion and love, being moved by the bitterness in our stomachs, out of a desire that they will turn from their wicked ways and come to know the One true God. 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your truth that is indeed, honey on our lips. We also recognize that this sweet truth to us, who have been given the free gift of grace, is bitter to those who have not accepted You. Lord, may we not be removed from this bitterness of the stomach, this pain that we know You experience for the lost. May we be moved by Your love to faithfully proclaim Your truth not matter how unpopular it maybe, but with utmost compassion and care. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Mark 8

September 7, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on July 9, 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

“My Most Prized Possession”

Luke 7:36-39

When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

Growing up I had one dream in life, and unlike most kids, my dream never changed: I wanted to be the first female Asian  Spielberg. To kick-start this dream, when I was in 6th grade I asked my parents for a very specific camcorder—the Sony DCR-TRV22. Now this camcorder was the most state-of-the-art recorder of its day, and I took care of this thing like it was my baby! This camera was my most prized possession because at the heart of it, I believed it would bring me closer to my dream of becoming Director Jennifer Kim. 

In today’s passage, we read of a woman identified only as “a woman in the city who was a sinner,” who owned a very prized possession: an alabaster jar of perfume. A single vial of this perfume was said to be the equivalent of one year‘s wages, and prostitutes at the time were actually known to wear these vials around their neck to increase their appeal. In other words, this jar of perfume was most likely the most expensive thing this woman owned; it was her livelihood and income as it was the source of her continuing lucrative business. Yet more than that, it was her very source of identity that labeled her the city sinner.

Oftentimes, the things that we hold onto as our most prized possession are the very things that cause us to sin. We can wear our titles, careers, family, relationships, and perhaps even our spiritual gifts around our neck, thinking they will increase our appeal. Yet while these things are not essentially bad, when they become the source of our identity, they become the very source of sin in our lives which only lead us to the feet of Jesus weeping like this woman. My camcorder is a silly example of my most prized possession, but it was the sole purpose of my heart that made me live in pursuit of an identity that never satisfied my heart, leading me further and further from the Lord. Our most prized possessions may be the things dearest to our heart, even becoming our source of income and our identity, but I want to encourage you today to reflect on whether God is asking you to lay your jars of perfume at the feet of Jesus, so you may live in the fullness of Christ Jesus. As this woman pours out her perfume to anoint Jesus’ feet, He says that what this woman has done will be remembered whenever the gospel is preached. Our sacrifices to the Lord are remembered forever, and God does not waste them as long as we surrender to Him. May we be people who fully surrender for the fullness of Jesus in our lives as we remember that God did not withhold anything for us.

Prayer: God, thank You for Your unending love to sacrifice everything, so I may enjoy fullness in You. May I also surrender my most prized possessions in pursuit of my identity in You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Mark 6-7

September 6, Friday

REPOST Today AMI Devotional QT, first posted on March 23, 2018, is provided by Pastor David Yoon of Tapestry Church in Los Angeles. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Perfect Storm”

Mark 4:35-41 

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Gloucester, Massachusetts was historically known for being an important shipbuilding center. More than 100,000 Gloucestermen died at sea due to severe storms from 1663-1923. In 1925, the town designed and built a sculpture famously known as the Man at the Wheel. On a small plaque it reads, “Memorial To The Gloucester Fisherman, August 23, 1923.” On the front plaque there is an inscription taken from Psalm 107:23: “They that go down to the sea in ships”.  In 2000, there was a movie titled The Perfect Storm that was based on a true story dedicated to the Gloucestermen lost at sea. 

Such as the storms that took many lives at sea, we, too, experience severe storms in our lives when we face hardships, trials, and crises. At times we may feel as though we can weather the storm and ride the wave; but then there are times when we truly feel as though we will perish. In today’s passage, we read of a great windstorm that struck the disciples as they were crossing the Sea of Galilee. Surrounded by mountains, the Sea of Galilee was—and still is—infamous for sudden squalls, such as violent storms and water rising without warning. In this particular storm, the waves were so strong that the boat was breaking and beginning to fill with water. Although the disciples were seaworthy fisherman and were accustomed to the storms of the Sea of Galilee, this storm was so fierce that they feared for their lives. But Jesus was very tired from days of traveling and ministering to large crowds, so He was sleeping. The disciples woke Jesus up and asked, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Did the disciples wake Jesus up so that He could take over the storm? We can infer from their response that they did not expect Jesus to calm the storm, for they were filled with great fear and awe as Jesus rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” 

Are you currently going through a season of storm? Is your heart filled with doubt and fear? The anxieties and worries of our everyday lives can often lead us to ask God, “Where are You?” When we are hurt by those around us or blinded by the troubles of this world, we could also lose sight of Jesus Christ—the hope of the world. In light of this, consider how you will react when you are faced with fear. Instead of responding to the storms of our lives with fear, let us respond with faith.

Prayer: Father God, help me to keep my eyes on You through the storms of life. Allow me to hear Your voice and have faith in You. I lay down all my worries and fears at the feet of the cross today. In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Mark 5

Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 4:4-7: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Questions to Consider

  1. What are the truths that Paul reminds us of in these verses?
  2. How can you rejoice in the Lord today?
  3. How can you be more intentional so that your hearts and minds are guarded in Christ Jesus?

Notes

  1. The Lord is at hand and the peace of God surpasses all understanding and guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
  2. It’s tempting to focus on the areas of your life that might be going according to your plan. Stretch yourself to thank God and rejoice in even the things that may not be the best thing yet. 
  3. Try to think of tangible and measurable ways in which you can practice guarding your heart and mind from the worries and thoughts of the world. 

Evening Reflection

Take time to reflect on how you viewed and responded to the events in your day. Did you find yourself rejoicing in the big and small aspects? Was your heart and mind guarded from the storms of worry? Ask God to give you direction and peace as you prepare for a new day. 

September 5, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on July 24, 2017, is provided by Lily Jang who served at Grace Covenant Church in Philadelphia for many years.    

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Lesson in Obedience”

1 Samuel 15:22-3

But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”

Many of us, millennials in particular, too easily pull ourselves toward achieving a performance-based faith.  It seems King Saul was too, since he was concerned more about actions to gain the approval of his soldiers (1 Sam. 15:24) rather than obeying God.  Saul was oblivious to what God wants from us: our obedience, not performance.

I learned an important lesson on obedience in July of 2016 when I took a step of faith to move down to Philadelphia from Boston. It was a decision that scared me in many ways—a step that had been in the making for years. But when I finally made the plunge, I learned two things. First, as I struggled with doubt, I learned that obedience wasn’t about having all my ducks in a row: having a safety plan, having job or financial security in Philadelphia to justify obedience, and putting hope in prophetic words I was given or what I thought I had heard from the Lord. Rather, I learned that obedience in faith was about trusting and leaning into God’s character, that He is good and that He loves me. 

Second, I learned that we have the freedom to obey God’s commands out of joy and love.

The beginning walk of my faith was characterized by reluctant and obligatory obedience, and it was no different when it came to moving to Philadelphia. However, God was not content to have me drag my feet wherever He called me to go; He desired to show me a better way. My reluctant obedience had conceived questions of doubt that arose out of deep sadness and fear. In the midst of this, I desperately asked the Lord for confirmation: “If You want me to go to Philly, can You just give me a ‘yes’?” What He gave me instead was a simple question: “Will you love me?”

In 1 Samuel 15:22, we catch a glimpse of the depth of love that is involved in obedience—a foreshadowing to come of the depth of love that is exemplified through the perfect obedience of Christ, obedience that was willful and joyful. Saul’s offering of sacrifice didn’t suffice, partly because it was never meant to; but through the ultimate and fulfilling sacrifice of Christ’s obedience, we are freed to obey as in His example, to obey in joy as an expression of our love for Him.

Prayer: Father, I praise and worship You this morning.  I thank You for the marvelous plan You have for my life (Eph. 2:10).  Please help me to obey You whenever You nudge me towards a direction that I would rather not take.  Help me to trust in your goodness and character.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Mark 4

Lunch Break Study (Prepared by Pastor Ryun)

Read 1 Samuel 13:11-13b: Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, 12 I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” 13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you . . .”

1 Samuel 15:20-1, 24: And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.”

Questions to Consider

1. Described here are two separate occasions in which Saul seemingly did good things (that is, he performed well), yet ultimately, he disobeyed God.  What happened?

2. What factor led King Saul to disobey God?

3. What other factors often prompt us to disobey God?  Has God been telling you to do something that you would rather not do?  What is keeping you from obeying Him?

Notes

1. In 1 Samuel 13, Saul, a Benjamite, sacrificed a burnt offering to God (not to some idol) before combating the Philistines.  In doing so, he disobeyed God’s mandate that only the family of Aaron could offer sacrifices (Num. 3:2).  In 1 Samuel 15, even though God commanded Saul to wipe out the entire Amalekite population and animals, he kept the king and best of the animals.  

2. In the first instance, Saul’s disobedience stemmed from his fear that Israel would lose the battle against the Philistines if more soldiers ran away out of fear (1 Sam. 13:6-7).  In the second incidence, Saul disobeyed because he cared more about what his soldiers thought of him as their leader than what God thought of him as His servant. 

3. One flip side of fear behind our disobedience is our excessive love of the security and predictability  of our present lifestyle.  And what keeps us from obeying God in our relationships (e.g., forgiveness) is almost always pride and self-justification. 

Evening Reflection

Did you know that there is a symbiotic relationship between obedience and suffering?   Hebrews 5:8 says, “Although [Jesus] was a son, He learned obedience through what He suffered.”   Are you going through difficult situations at the moment?  Pray about how that experience can lead to obeying the Lord more fully from here on out.  Give it a thought, and a prayer. 

September 4, Wednesday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted September 4, 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

“To Listen or Not to Listen”

Jeremiah 35:17-19 (ESV)

 Therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them and they have not listened, I have called to them and they have not answered.” 18 But to the house of the Rechabites Jeremiah said, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Because you have obeyed the command of Jonadab your father and kept all his precepts and done all that he commanded you, 19 therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Jonadab the son of Rechab shall never lack a man to stand before me.”

One of the most important Hebrew words for understanding our relationship with God is the word shema, which is the command to listen or to hear.  The first few statements of the Bible remind us that all of creation came into existence as it listened to the voice of God.  By the mere breath of His word, countless millions of galaxies were formed, an endless variety of life was created, and the vastness of the universe came into existence.  All of creation heard His voice and obeyed.  Therefore, it makes sense that a people set apart for Him would be identified by those same characteristics: created by His word, always attentive and ready to listen to that same voice.  It also makes sense that the greatest failure of God’s people would be to ignore His voice and refuse to answer when He calls.   

In the book of Jeremiah, we can see that the ultimate destiny of our lives is directly connected to either our fidelity to His word or our refusal to listen. There are only two paths in life: one that is lived in accordance to God’s word, or one that is lived fighting against it.   Unfortunately, the Jewish people at this time in history chose the wrong path, and they brought upon themselves the impending disasters of war and captivity.  The Rechabites, on the other hand, offer a glimmer of hope.  Though they were not racially tied to the Jewish people, they remained as a symbol of faithfulness and adherence to the things of God.  The lineage of the Rechabites can be traced back to the Kenites, the same racial identity of Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses.  They are a testament to the fact that God always leaves us with living examples of those who are faithful to Him. 

Jesus came to earth into a very familiar situation.  The voice of God had become nothing more than tradition and the following of man-made rules.  And so He came to us as the living Word—the very logos of God as the apostle John describes Him.  Jesus is the perfect Kenite, the perpetual example of One who hears His Father and then lives in accordance to that word.  May we learn to hear as He heard and to obey just as He obeyed.   

Prayer: Father, we need to hear Your voice.  The very course of our lives is dependent on this ability to listen and to obey.  Would You give us sensitive hearts that can pick up on the still small voice of Your Spirit?  Would You provide illumination to our minds so that we can see what is in Your Word?  And would You supply the strength of will so that we might live by what we hear?  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Mark 3

Lunch Break Study

Read John 10:1-16: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.  7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

Questions to Consider

  1. What is the defining characteristic of sheep that belong to Jesus?
  2. How can we distinguish Jesus’ voice from the noise of this world?
  3. Where is Jesus’ voice leading us? 

Notes

  1. The primary characteristic is that they hear His voice.  One of the ways that ancient shepherds kept their flocks safe was to carry newborn lamb (which are very cute) and nurse them in order to build trust and love.  They would also name them like a family pet and talk or sing to them so that they would recognize the shepherd’s voice.  I have no idea how you would eat this animal after raising it like your baby, but this is something that is practiced today by Bedouin shepherds in the Middle East.  In the evenings, several flocks of sheep will come together to rest and in the morning, the sheep will follow the voice of their own specific shepherd as they hear their name.
  • The problem in many churches is that we don’t teach the basic foundations of hearing and discerning the voice of God.  The starting point of growing this part of your relationship with God is asking yourself the following questions:
    • Are the words that I am hearing scriptural?  Are they consistent with biblical principles?
    • Do these words display the character of Christ?
    • Is there anything tainting my hearing, such as hidden motivations? 
    • What is the visible fruit of obeying these words? 
  • Jesus desires to lead us to a life of abundance.  The promise of Christ isn’t to leave you in the sheep pen but to lead you out into green pastures and by still waters.  In verse 10, He contrasts Himself from the thieves and hired hands who only look to steal and destroy the sheep, but He comes so that you may have life and have it abundantly.  The Greek word translated abundantly literally means “that which goes way beyond necessity.”  The gift of Jesus is life beyond what we could possibly imagine, and following His voice is the only way to get there. 

Evening Reflection

Have you taken time today to listen for God’s voice?  Sometimes we can be like children who are too busy with their own activities even to hear their parents yelling at them.  Take time to quiet everything around you, including your phone and media, and focus on hearing with your heart.  Pray that His voice would drown out all the lies of the world and fill you with hope and peace. 

September 3, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional, first posted on February 2, 2018, is provided by Pastor Doug Tritton. Doug has been pastoring Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia since 2021.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“You Shall Not See My Face”

Genesis 43:3

But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’”

I am sure many of us have had times where we have gotten into arguments with friends or family. This seems to be a way of life. Put two or more sinners together, and there is sure to be conflict at times! A common expression people will use when in periods of conflict is this: “I do not want to see you right now!” Have you ever said that or something similar before? I know I have!

As we know from the story of Joseph, there was certainly reason for him to be upset with his brothers. Because of them, he ended up as a slave in Egypt! Yet, as Joseph’s brothers came for grain during the famine, you can sense there was an eagerness for Joseph to be reconciled to them; however, before doing that he wanted them to bring Benjamin. In some way, this was how Joseph believed they would demonstrate their repentance for what they had done. But until then, his brothers wouldn’t see his face again.

Unfortunately, in our relationship with God, many times we project a similar sentiment onto God. Sometimes we think to ourselves, “God must be angry with me because I messed up. He probably does not want to see me right now.” Yet, the amazing truth is that, despite our brokenness, God wants us to be with Him! Though we do not see Him face to face yet, we can be in His presence!

Romans 5:2 says, “Through [Jesus] we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Because of Jesus we can come to God and be reconciled to Him. He will never say to you, “I do not want to see you right now.” Rather, He says to us, “Nothing can separate you from my love.” May we rejoice in this amazing love of our Father, knowing that He is eager for us to be with Him—no matter what.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that you made a way for me to come to You. May I love to be in Your presence. Help me to not shrink back in fear when I feel I messed up. But may I come to You, continually knowing that You are the source of grace. Thank You for this great love You have always shown me; thank You that nothing can separate me from this love. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Mark 2

Lunch Break Study  

Read Romans 5:1-2: Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Questions to Consider

  1. Why do we have peace with God?
  2. To what have we obtained access? What does this mean?
  3. What keeps you from recognizing God’s presence in Your life?

Notes

  1. We have peace with God because “we have been justified by faith”! This means that we have been forgiven of our sins – everything that would have made us not be able to be in God’s presence has been removed so that we can be with Him! What’s amazing is that this is not a one-time thing. We are forever forgiven and even though we still feel unworthy to be with God, this forgiveness is does not go away
  2. V.2 says that we have obtained access by faith into God’s grace. This peace and this grace that we received means we can be reconciled with God and actually be with Him. May that encourage us each day, that no matter where we are, no matter how we feel, we can be with God in His presence.
  3. Perhaps there is a feeling that some sin is keeping you from being with God. Do not let that hold you back from Him! Ask God for forgiveness that you may receive grace upon grace, a grace that is bigger than our sins. Let’s rejoice in the love of God that draws us to continually to Him!

Evening Reflection

As you get ready for sleep, invite the presence of God over your life. Ask Him to be with you as you sleep, that you may not just get physical rest tonight but spiritual rest as you rest in His love.

September 2, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional is a reprint of Kate Moon’s blog originally posted on January 22, 2018.  Kate continues to serve the Lord in E. Asia. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“What Choice Will You Make Today?”

Genesis 39:1-5

“Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. 5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.

Pat* had been hired by a team leader he felt valued and respected by, but three months into his new job, this leader left the company—and his new supervisor was a terror.  Everything Pat did seemed to irritate his new supervisor, who often demeaned him in front of his teammates.  He was unhappy but couldn’t change jobs for at least another year, since it wouldn’t look good on his resumé.  Have you ever felt stuck in a bad situation through circumstances not under your control?

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

At 17, Joseph begins his young adult life in just such a manner. The first verse of this chapter states twice how Joseph ended up in Egypt, both times highlighting that it was not of his own accord: He had been “taken down to Egypt” by Ishmaelites who had “taken him there.”  He was in a bad situation through circumstances beyond his control, and at this point, he had several choices as to how he could react: 1) blame others (his brothers for selling him, his father for favoring him) and become either an angry, bitter person or lost in self-pity; 2) blame himself (“If only I hadn’t told them about the dreams,” or “If only I hadn’t worn that coat so often,”) and become lost in a sea of regret; or 3) rebel by being passive-aggressive—not doing his best on the job.  He may very well have gone through all of these phases in his heart, but it looks like in the end, the choice he made was this: to trust God and do his work according to godly principles.  How do we know?  Because the text says that God blessed everything that Joseph did.

Are you currently in an unfavorable situation at work or home because of circumstances beyond your control?  Such situations are truly difficult and frustrating to be in, but what choice will you make today?

Prayer:  Lord, I accept that I cannot be in control of all things and say that I trust that You are still at work, even in unfavorable situations in my life.  Would you help me to be faithful in honoring you and so to experience you in the midst of it all?  In your name I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Mark 1

Lunch Break Study 

Read Genesis 1:26-28:Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Genesis 12:1-3: 1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.  2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Questions to Consider

1. Why did God create human beings?  For what role or purpose?  (1:26, 28)

2. Why did God set apart a certain group of people?  In what position are they in relation to all other people?  (12:2, 3b)

3. In what ways do you see Joseph’s life fulfilling the two passages above, even as he found himself in an unfavorable situation?  How do these verses and his example challenge you?

Notes

1. To rule over all created things (v.26), under God’s authority, at his command, with his blessing (v. 28).  To be God’s stewards over all creation.

2. To receive God’s blessing and become a blessing to all people.

3.   Joseph managed well what was given to him and became a blessing to another people.  To be a faithful steward and a blessing to others, even under circumstances I may not love, is to fulfill my fundamental calling as a human being and one who is of the people of God.

Evening Reflection

Reflect on these questions: Did anything happen today to place me in a situation not of my own choosing (i.e., not under my control)?  How did I choose to handle or react to being in such a situation?  Did I manage faithfully what God entrusted me with today?  Did I bless others today?