REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional—originally posted on May 21, 2019—is provided by Jennifer Kim, who faithfully served on staff at several AMI churches in years past.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Atoning Sacrifice”

Exodus 29:10-25

 “Bring the bull to the front of the tent of meeting, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head. 11 Slaughter it in the Lord’s presence at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 12 Take some of the bull’s blood and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and pour out the rest of it at the base of the altar. 13 Then take all the fat on the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, and both kidneys with the fat on them, and burn them on the altar. 14 But burn the bull’s flesh and its hide and its intestines outside the camp. It is a sin offering. 15 “Take one of the rams, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head.16 Slaughter it and take the blood and splash it against the sides of the altar. 17 Cut the ram into pieces and wash the internal organs and the legs, putting them with the head and the other pieces. 18 Then burn the entire ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the Lord, a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord. 19 “Take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head.20 Slaughter it, take some of its blood and put it on the lobes of the right ears of Aaron and his sons, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. Then splash blood against the sides of the altar. 21 And take some blood from the altar and some of the anointing oil and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments and on his sons and their garments. Then he and his sons and their garments will be consecrated. 22 “Take from this ram the fat, the fat tail, the fat on the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, both kidneys with the fat on them, and the right thigh. 23 From the basket of bread made without yeast, which is before the Lord, take one round loaf, one thick loaf with olive oil mixed in, and one thin loaf. 24 Put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons and have them wave them before the Lord as a wave offering. 25 Then take them from their hands and burn them on the altar along with the burnt offering for a pleasing aroma to the Lord, a food offering presented to the Lord.”

Two months ago, my dog of 17 years passed away.  Although I had prepared myself for this sad day, the grief was one that I still cannot explain.  Most of it came, when looking back, from the realization that my dog had been with me for more years of my life than not.  She saw me through my rebellious, absent teenage years to my move to college that left me seeing her only a few times a year, until I moved back home during the last years of her life.  As I saw all the transitions that she had gone through to cater to my absent lifestyle, I realized her undying loyalty and faithfulness to me until the end.  It was precisely this realization that brought me so much grief as I regretted my choices to not be a better caretaker.

Today’s passage highlights the unusual process of laying hands on an animal’s head before slaughtering it before the Lord.  This process was meant to symbolize the transference of sin from a guilty person onto an animal that, then, is slaughtered as a substitutionary sacrifice.  We know that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23) and to approach a holy God we must be cleansed by an atoning sacrifice.  What a humbling experience: to put your hands on the head of an innocent animal as you confess the sins that you should die for, and then witness its innocent death in your place.

Although the death of my dog and the regret I felt in no way compares to witnessing something die in place of my sins, I can see the weightiness that God desired for all people to understand during this process.  We must recognize that the road to sin is death and it separates us from the God who desires to be in a relationship with us.  However, God does not leave us here; He gives us a gift – an ultimate sacrifice that will take our place forever.  “For the wages of sin [may be] death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).  

Today let us remember the cost of sin and the sacrifice it took, but may it not leave us in despair or regret, but thanksgiving for Jesus’ work on the cross.   And most of all, may it lead us to action to pursue a life of purity because we know, through the work of Christ, God does not just delight in sacrifice and takes no pleasure in burnt offerings, but a broken and contrite heart he does not despise (Ps. 51:16-17).

Prayer: God I thank You for Your love that moved You to stand in the place of my death.  And thank You that I may now freely approach Your throne.  Help me to never forget the cost of my sins, but may it lead me to a life of purity that seeks to honor You in all things.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 18

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Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 6:15-23:What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. 19 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Questions to Consider 

• What are the effects of living as a slave to sin compared to living as a slave to righteousness?
• What is the mark that you are not a slave to sin but to righteousness?
• This passage reveals that we are either a slave of sin or a slave of righteousness, for we cannot serve two masters.  Is there any sin in your life that is preventing you from living in righteousness?

Notes

• Slaves of sin will reap death (v.16) while slaves of righteousness will live in holiness and eternal life (v.22).
• A life of obedience (v.16).
• Personal.

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Evening Reflection

Take some time to reflect on the day.  Were you living in the righteousness given to you through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross?  Or were you living in sin?  If you find yourself discouraged at the sins of your life, remember we are living under grace because of Christ.  That does not mean we can continue living in sin, as we read in today’s lunch break study, but it does mean God’s mercies are new every morning. As you go in repentance, ask the Lord for strength to live in obedience and righteousness tomorrow.

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was originally posted on May 3, 2019.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“God’s Guidance Today”

Exodus 23:20-21 (NIV)

“See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. ²¹ Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him. 

In every season and iteration of doing life with God, in biblical times and today, the people of God are given God’s guidance for life’s journey. For the Israelites after the exodus, a visible manifestation of God’s presence was given. A pillar of smoke by night and fire by day guided their journey through the wilderness. God promised, in the verses above, to send a heavenly messenger ahead of them for the purposes of both guidance and protection. All the people had to do was pay attention to God’s messenger, listen and obey. 

It almost seems silly that God would command them to listen and not rebel against the angel. After all, they are in the wilderness with no clue how to get to the place they are going. God brought them out of the place they left and God alone could lead them to wherever they are headed. Furthermore, God is promising both guidance and protection. Why on earth would they rebel against that!? Well, we know how the story goes. The journey through the wilderness was long and hard and the hearts of the people were far from formed in righteousness. And, thus, rebellion was swift and sure. 

I often wish we had physical manifestations of God’s presence today. A clear, audible voice to say do this or that and a visible manifestation of Godself guiding and protecting us every day. But even with those things in place, we too would rebel. And although we are without smoke and fire, God has not left us alone—we have the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is our help, who comes alongside us to guide our steps and guard our way. God’s Spirit within us forms our heart so that we are able to not rebel and so are positioned to experience the fullness of God’s promises, the abundant afforded in Christ. But sometimes, at least for me, it’s hard to know when the Spirit is speaking and how God is calling me to obey. 

I’ve picked up a few tools over the years that have been helpful: 

(1) Time in God’s word (Scripture), time with God’s people (fellowship), and time in God’s presence (prayer): God has revealed Godself in Scripture, God’s presence resides in God’s people, and God has promised to meet us in prayer. 

(2) Contemplative practices and Sabbath rest: In contemplation, the heart and mind are able to slow down and become aware of oneself, one’s surrounds, and God’s presence (which is always near). Likewise, rhythms that honor Sabbath leave margin for us to sense God’s movements. 

Regardless of your preferred practice, we must each find ways to sense the movement and hear the voice of God’s Spirit. 

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. (John 14:26)

Prayer: Dear Lord, guide me toward Your path, toward Your will, toward Your Son.  Thank You for the Word and the Spirit through which I’m guided by You daily.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 17

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Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 139:1-12 (NIV):You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. ² You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. ³ You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. ⁴ Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. ⁵ You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. ⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. ⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? ⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. ⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, ¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. ¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” ¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

Question to Consider

• In the first few verses, what is the psalmist (David) emphasizing about God? Why is this such mind-blowing truth? 
• How does David respond to God’s intimate knowledge of and constant nearness to him?
• How does God’s intimate knowledge of you make you feel? Does it encourage you or make you feel “hemmed in”? How does knowing God is always near make you feel? Fearful or safe? Why might you feel this way? 

Notes

• David is focusing on God’s intimate knowledge of him. God knows the intricacies of his heart and all the facts of his life. God knows his daily movements and is aware of his mundane activities and even his travel plans. Even when David thinks he’s far from God, God is so near as to know David’s thoughts. God knows his words and everything about him. 

Because theology teaches us that God is all-knowing, the awesomeness of these statements may be lost upon us. God is infinite and has no reason or need to be so actively mindful of you or me. God chooses this. Just imagine what it would take for you to exist in the kind of relationship with another person that was so intimate that you could make these statements about them. 

• Not positively… David feels trapped or hemmed in by God. Even if he wanted to escape, he feels like he couldn’t. That’s a fearsome thought. This is of course David’s initial response. Later in the Psalm he is thankful for God’s presence and invites God to “search and know” him. 
• Personal reflection.

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Evening Reflection

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)

Two questions, informed by Romans 12:1-2, have come in clutch for me as I seek to discern the leading of the Spirit in my life. The first is, “God, what do you want me to do for you?” or, to put it a different way, “How can I offer myself to You in worship in this specific situation?” The second is, “What do I want to do for and with God?” or, “In light of my resources (time, talent, treasure) and the sort of person God has formed in me, how can I intentionally and strategically orient and direct the whole of my life toward the end of maximum Kingdom impact?” The first question is a micro kind of question and has been helpful in all the little decisions that come my way on any given day. The second approaches Spiritual guidance on a more macro level and has help me keep the end goal in mind. 

What kinds of questions help you discern God’s guidance in your life? Spend time reflecting on Romans 12:1-2. What would it look like for you to offer yourself (your time, talent, and treasures) in worship to God in your present context? In light of your personality, gifts, resources, passions and experiences, what might strategic Kingdom building look like in your life long term? 

REPOST  Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, written by Pastor Andrew Kim, was originally posted on October 21, 2018.  Andrew, a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.) is presently pastoring Alive Church in Montreal.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“What Christ Has to Do With Our Digitalized Life”

Jeremiah 46:27-28

“But fear not, O Jacob my servant, nor be dismayed, O Israel, for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid. 28 Fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the Lord,
for I am with you. I will make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.”

Sociologists have suggested that 2007 changed the course of history. It was the year that Steve Jobs released the first iPhone and Facebook opened up its platform to anyone who wanted to connect to the new digital age. With the advent of these technological advances, we have seen the world progress in ways we could have never imagined—accomplishing things at a much faster pace. However, it does not come without its downfalls. Nonstop connection to our smartphones and social media has made this the age of anxiety. There are many reasons for this. We are constantly comparing ourselves to others through Facebook or Instagram, always feeling as if our lives are not as fun or meaningful as the ones we see on our screens. Furthermore, the smartphone has allowed us to take our work home and we have become a generation of workaholics. Devices that were supposed to save us time has only increased our work. Due to these things, our souls are tired and restless—weighed down by the pressure to succeed, produce, and live a life worth posting on social media. 

In today’s passage we see a word of hope given to Israel. Even with their exile inevitably coming to them, there will come a time when “Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease.” In other words, there will be rest from their enemies and they would no longer have to fight for their promised land. The Jews called this Sabbath rest, where all threats to their existence would be dissipated because of God’s deliverance and love for them. They would no longer have to be restless, always on guard to make sure their enemies don’t destroy them. 

And in the same way, this is the hope given to us through Jesus Christ. We live in a restless world where we are constantly fighting to embrace our identity in Christ—different factors perpetually trying to lure us away from God’s truth and tempting us to measure who we are with the standard of the world. And this is a tiring fight. However, there will come a day when Jesus comes back, where these temptations will no longer fight for our identity. We will find true rest in who we are in Christ when the world is renewed for all eternity. Let us continue to fight the good fight of faith knowing that we will find the rest our hearts are looking for when Christ comes back! 

Prayer: Father, I confess that my soul is tired from the pressures of this world. I pray that You would give rest for my soul as I find my worth and identity in who You are. Help me to continue to fight the good fight as I find hope and strength from the promise of Your return! 

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 16

UPDATED Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was originally posted on February 14, 2013

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Love Beyond Valentine’s Day”

Psalm 17:6-9

“I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. ⁷ Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. ⁸ Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of  your wings ⁹ from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.”

On this Valentine’s Day, many will express their love for that special someone with a box of chocolates and a bouquet of roses. Sweet to the palate and pleasing to the senses, these gifts are delightful—but they quickly fade. 

Here, David asks God to show the wonder of His great love by protecting him from those who seek to harm him. Yet if we base God’s love solely on how often He rescues us in the ways we imagine, disappointment will eventually follow. God does not always deliver us according to our script.

There is, however, one unfailing way to know that we are the apple of God’s eye. Paul puts it like this: “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). That love will never perish; it is eternally secure.

Remember that billions of people on this earth don’t believe in Christ—but you do. That’s special. Why you? For now, simply enjoy the wonder of it.

Prayer: Dear God, before I begin this day, I confess my tendency to take Your love for granted. As if the gift of faith—the grace to believe in Your Son—were not enough, I often complain about my circumstances, especially when I compare myself to others. Forgive me, Lord. Help me to recognize each day that the love You have shown in Christ is more than sufficient for me. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 14-15

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Christine Li, was originally posted on March 8, 2019. Christine serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Resilient Faith”

Exodus 10:1, 3 

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these signs of mine among them!’… So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh…”

I recently applied to business school programs. It took a lot of preparation – studying for exams, getting recommendations, and writing essays. I was short-sighted to think that the hardest part was applying. The hardest part has been waiting to hear back from these schools. At the time of writing, I have only received rejections so far. While I felt led by Him entering this process, I’ve noticed that my hopefulness has still taken a hit with these decisions. It becomes increasingly hard to start each day wondering whether I will receive news, and sometimes I even go as far as to avoid checking my email. Though this process is far from over, I find that sustaining my hope has been difficult.

If you are tracking with the narrative, you know that we are now between the seventh and eighth plagues. This means that Moses has gone before Pharaoh, stated his case, and received rejection seven times! Yet when God calls him to go again, Moses does so without any recorded hesitation or frustration. Each time, Moses continues to present Himself to Pharaoh – this time could be the last time! The resilience of Moses’ faith and hope to continue seeking out Pharaoh are just as astonishing as the plagues themselves.

In thinking of how to acquire such emotional and spiritual stamina, I wonder if Moses acquired such resilience and perseverance because he understood that hopefulness was not about the reward of what he wished to gain but about the God He believed in. Maintaining hope was not about his ability to drum up positive thoughts. It was possible only because he wanted to demonstrate, for as long as it took, that God is faithful to His people and always delivers them.

Walking in step with God does not always prove to be an efficient or easy path. For Moses, each step of obedience and each ensuing plague further revealed one more aspect of God’s power and glory. So, we can take heart that no matter what the path looks like, it will be paved with His glory. Until He shows us the ending, let’s ask for Him to make our hope resilient in the meantime so we may witness to the world that we have a God who is worthy of our trust. 

Prayer: Father, I desire to honor You in everything that I do. Help me to honor You even when I wait for Your answers, and in times when I doubt Your unfailing goodness and kindness in my life. Be near, Lord, to show me Your goodness and remind me of your faithfulness. May Your character be the foundation for my trust and confidence. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 13

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Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 10:19-25:“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Questions to Consider

• What is the hope that we profess to have as believers?
• What provides the confidence for us to go before God and hold onto His promises?
• As people who take hold of the hope in Christ, what should our natural response be?

Notes

• Our hope is that we have relationship and communion with a loving and holy God. As believers, we profess that this is our greatest treasure and reward, that it brings us the greatest satisfaction, and that this is promised for every single moment of our lives from now to eternity. 
• The crux of our confidence in every situation is that Christ has already opened a way for us to come near to God by His death and resurrection. He has already accomplished the impossible: for sinners to draw near to a holy God. Therefore, we have assurance that we can absolutely draw close. Additionally, God’s faithfulness gives us the assurance that this promise and hope will never be withheld from us.
• Holding onto our hope (vertical relationship) flows naturally into our horizontal relationships. When we cling to our hope and enjoy this promised fellowship with God, our response will be to urge others to continue in their love and good deeds and to draw close to each other as well.
  

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Evening Reflection

Oftentimes, thinking of enduring long stretches of time makes us weary before we have even started. Let’s thank God that He provided grace for us to stay faithful today, and let’s ask Him to provide grace for tomorrow. Our God is the God of all hope; He will bring us along as He shows us what is worth hoping for.

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on May 30, 2019, 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.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Rhythm of Life”

Exodus 31:17

“It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.”

A major part of my life was spent in the pool. Elementary, junior high, high school, and even one year of college, I swam competitively and played water polo, and the people on my swim team were some of my closest friends. You could say, swimming was life for me. But swimming is also a source of one of my regrets in life. 

There is a part of me that believes that I could have given more—you know that thought in your mind where you’re really trying but at the same time, you know you’re still holding back a little bit. Whether it be fear or what not, you know there is something holding you back. And I finished my swimming career with that thought lingering in my head, that I could have pushed a little harder, achieved a faster time or accomplished more. This caused me to vow that I wouldn’t make the same mistake in life. 

I think I carried some of that mentality into ministry—the idea that if you give more, more will result from it, the more input will result in more output. But I soon discovered as God begin to work through my heart, addressing the insecurities and fears, that ministry—let alone life— doesn’t work that way. Yes, we are called to be diligent, but there is no formula or mechanism that guarantees success. 

In today’s passage, we see how the idea of the Sabbath is deeply rooted in the Divine life. A commentator notes that just as God created for six days, resting on the seventh, there is a rhythm to life that is exemplified by God. As we know from the creation account, the work is not fully done—God invites Adam to join Him in the work of naming all the creatures (Genesis 2:20). And yet God sets the seventh day apart for rest. 

I think the greater spiritual lesson we can draw from this is not just the importance of keeping the Sabbath holy through rest and worship, but it is a reminder that our lives are meant to become more in sync with God. Just as a musician doesn’t make more or better music by increasing the tempo, we too must remember that in God’s Kingdom, success does not work that way. We are never meant to get in front of God or fall too far behind. 

In the Sabbath is a beautiful picture of God and His people, moving through life in synchrony. It is a paradigm shift where the abundant life is not about achieving more but being rooted and in sync with He who is life. 

Prayer: Father, thank You that You know us so well. You know our tendencies to want to move ahead of You or behind You. We want to live according to the beat of our own drum. But thank You for the reminder that true abundant life comes from a life that is in sync with You. Help us to live like this. In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 12

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Lunch Break Study  

Read Matthew 11:25-30: At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 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.”

Questions to Consider

• Before He gets to the section on what our relationship looks like with Him, what does Jesus first establish in verses 25-27? How does this become an anchor to what He teaches us in the remainder of the passage?
• If you’ve never seen what a yoke is, take some time to look on Google. Seeing how a yoke works, what insights can you draw upon how this is to be a picture of our relationship with God, especially in light of our reflection today?
  How is your co-laboring with Christ? Are you experiencing the kind of rest Jesus promises? What should your response be?

Notes

• Before Jesus offers this relationship with us, He reiterates His relationships with the Father and to whom these things have been revealed. It also establishes Jesus’ authority as all things have been handed to Him. This thus becomes the foundation upon Jesus’ offer of rest to us is established. 

• One of the insights we can draw upon the imagery used by Jesus is about pace. As a yoke ties two animals together to work together in tilling the field, one animal cannot move in front or fall back behind the other animal without the yoke becoming ineffective. The lightness and restfulness of being yoked with Christ comes with not only learning from Him, but walking in the pace that He establishes for us. 
• Personal response.

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Evening Reflection

As you close off another day, take a moment to “take your pulse.” How is your sense of rest? How might this be a reflection in terms of living according to God’s pace of life? As you reflect, lift up a prayer to the Lord asking Him to help you in calibrating your life to His.

UPDATED Todays’ AMI Quiet Time, originally posted on February 23, 2019, is provided by Pastor Ryun.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Our Two-Headed Enemy: Prayerlessness and Spiritual Exhibitionism”

Psalm 5:1-3

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing. 2 Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. 3 In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

Matthew 6:5a

And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others.

As the head of Israel, King David was an extraordinarily busy man. Yet his mornings were devoted to seeking God. He understood that once the day began, uninterrupted time with the Lord would be hard to come by. And this wasn’t a brief, hurried encounter—David pleaded, cried out, and waited on the LORD.

How do you typically spend your morning hours? Could they be better used to nurture spiritual growth? As a new day begins, is there anything tugging at your heart, stirring worry or restlessness? Take a moment to lay that burden before God. Ultimately, prayerlessness reveals that we neither trust nor rely on Him.

But there is something even worse than prayerlessness: praying in order to be seen by others and appear spiritual—a kind of spiritual exhibitionism. The Pharisees in Jesus’ day perfected this practice. Yet the temptation is hardly unique to them. Many of us slip into similar patterns through other “spiritual” displays—biblical knowledge, ministry involvement, or public acts of devotion—made all the easier in an age shaped by constant socialmedia visibility. Beneath it all lies a deeper question: What truly anchors our sense of security—our performance or God’s unconditional acceptance of us in Christ?

What’s the trap when we try to earn people’s approval through our performance? It becomes addictive. Those intoxicated by it will do almost anything—tell lies, spread gossip, even stage events—to keep their audience. In the 1980s, before mobile phones became common, some people installed fake carphone antennas just to appear important. What a vivid picture of insecurity.

So how do we break free from living like that? Paul points us toward a surprising path in 2 Corinthians 12:9: “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” One way to confront insecurity is to practice vulnerability—to acknowledge our weaknesses honestly and then testify to how Christ continues to heal, strengthen, and transform those very areas. Another way is to resist the impulse to showcase every act of devotion on social media. Paul puts it this way: “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). Choose the life of hiddenness.

Try it today.

Prayer: Lord, give me the wisdom and discipline  to seek You first in the morning. I lay before You all my burden, for You are gentle and humble in heart, and Your yoke is easy and burden is light. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 11

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Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 6:1-5: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 5 And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 

Questions to Consider

1. Who said this and to whom was this said (Mt. 5:1)?

2. Why was this taught² (Mt. 16:5-6, 11, 23:2-3)?

3. What was in it for the Pharisees to behave like this?  What were they willing to do to get what they wanted (Mt. 23:5-6; Mk. 11:18; Jn. 7:31-32)?

Notes

1. Jesus said this to a large crowd that had followed him to a mountainside to listen to him.

2. He was concerned that they may learn to act like the Pharisees, their hypocritical leaders (“Don’t do what they do”).  Bad spiritual leadership can really affect people; thus, we need to be judicious in choosing our spiritual leader.

3. Having gotten used to receiving approval from the audience, the Pharisees craved for more and were willing to do anything, like praying ostentatiously before people to impress them (thus, making spirituality a means to a carnal end), or conspiring to eliminate their competition, that is, Jesus (thus, breaking the very commandments they had taught the people to obey).

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Evening Reflection

Were you busy today?  Too busy to pray or too busy not to pray? Write out a prayer asking God for strength to trust Him amid your trials and those things that make you feel insecure.   

REPOST Today’s blog, written by Pastor Sam Lee of Catalyst Agape Church in New Jersey, was originally posted on July 22, 2014.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Weapon of Choice”

1 Peter 2:11-12

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Interestingly, Peter addresses his readers as “Dear friends,” putting himself in a position not only as their teacher but their friend; a friend who is genuinely concerned about their welfare concerning sin. He doesn’t want to just give impersonal techniques and programs to overcome sin, but his exhortation comes from a deep sense of care for them. 

He reminds the believers that as “foreigners” in this world, we are called to be different from the world.  Though the people of the world spend much energy to fulfill their sinful desires, not caring about the consequences or how much sin hurts others and themselves, for the believers, the sinful desires “wage war against your soul.”  Peter reminds us that we can’t just blindly be dragged through the alleys by these desires; but rather, we need to take up arms and fight the good fight.  

But how do we fight the battle?  Not with the weapons of this world; we have a different kind of weapon.  Whereas the enemy wants us to lose hope and become bitter when we are faced with sin, Peter tells us to do the opposite of what the devil tells us to do:  “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” (v. 12).  Or, as Paul puts it, “Do not be overcome by evil, overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21). He reminds us that when good is done in the midst of evil, it’s like light shining brighter in the midst of darkness.  

Prayer: No weapon forged against me will prevail. Lord, thank You that I will overcome in Christ.

Though I walked in the valley of death, I will fear no evil for You are with me.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 10

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Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Corinthians 10:3-5: For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Questions to Consider

1. Many use guilt (condemnation) to motivate themselves to do better (live a holy life).  Upon what basis can we root our faith (that is not guilt driven) so that we may live a holy life (Rom. 12:2)?

2. This passage says, “We do not wage war as the world does.” What is one spiritual battle you are going through that you can apply this teaching? What would you do differently?

Notes

1. Here, Paul is talking about the importance of a clear, biblical thinking that sees right through thoughts and beliefs that are detrimental to our faith.  In Romans 12:2, the apostle talks about renewing of our mind, which leads to approving what God’s will is –his good, pleasing and perfect will. When we live accordingly, a holy life (separated from the worldly values) will be its outcome.

2. When we have a problem with a person, the first thing we think of doing is to talk to that individual.  This verse teaches us that we ought to pray before we speak to anyone.  It is not just a problem between people; there may be a spiritual dimension that needs to be addressed.  After praying, we may no longer feel the need to talk to that person, but instead keep on praying.

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Evening Reflection

Pray for one person that seems to be dragging you down spiritually. How can you move in the opposite spirit of this person?

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Christine Li, was originally posted on October 14, 2019. Christine serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Up Close and Personal”

Hebrews 1:1-4 

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.”

This past year, I had the chance to see a musician that I admire very much. Prior to the concert, I did my homework: I listened to his songs (even memorizing some) and read all his recent interviews. I even began googling other people’s experiences of the concert tour to anticipate the setlist. Going in, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what to expect. However, the live experience was even better than expected! Seeing him in the flesh was incredible; it made every attribute of his come alive: the tone of voice, facial expressions, spontaneous decisions! He became more than the impression and construct I’d made in my head. 

The writer of Hebrews tells us that God has revealed Himself in a similar manner. In the past, He spoke only to certain people, He left a written account to tell us what He values, and He even revealed His power with some miracles. Devoted scholars would have had plenty of resources to form an impression and understanding of God. But all those things paled in comparison to the actual experience of having Jesus in the flesh. Now, through the Son, God has spoken to us in a new, concrete way. His character comes alive through the demonstrations of His love, mercy, compassion, holiness, and justice. 

Do you or I adequately appreciate how wonderful it is that God came in the flesh for us? It’s possible that we have taken accounts of Him (the Gospels) or accounts of His effect on men (Acts and the rest of the New Testament) too lightly. You and I, being born on this side of Christ’s life, have the wonderful privilege to know Him directly and be able to reference what He said, how He spoke, what He did.

Let us spend time today meditating on how the person of Christ fills up our understanding of God. Through Him, we understand perfect love. Through Him, we understand holiness. Through Him, we understand compassion and grace. Let’s thank God that He did not leave Himself shrouded in mystery but instead came to this world and fully exposed us to His goodness.

Prayer: God, thank You for coming! Thank You for not staying a distant and mysterious being but coming in the flesh so that we would know You with certainty and with intimacy. Help me not to take Your revelation for granted but teach me to understand You better. Amen.

 Bible Reading for Today: Acts 9

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Lunch Break Study

Read 1 John 1:1-4:  “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.”

Questions to Consider

• What does John say here about our senses being engaged in knowing God? Why would this be important?
• Why does John have to proclaim this reality of the Word of life? What is his goal?
• In these elements of encountering, testifying, and fellowshipping, which one are you most engaged in? Which one would you like more of?

Notes

• John notes multiple senses engaged in knowing God: sound, sight, touch. Instead of knowing God abstractly (an eternal God “from the beginning”) and distantly, the disciples experienced Him fully: He was known, seen, regarded, beheld, and physically touched. Because Jesus came in the flesh, God was fully revealed to men. 
• Testimony is the natural outflow from someone who has encountered God intensely. Deepening one’s fellowship with God is the end goal; even fellowship with one another is yet another means of enjoying the presence of God and heightening the joy of having encountered God. For joy do the disciples continue to testify of God’s reality and closeness.
• Personal reflection.

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Evening Reflection

Take some time to think about today’s topic. Does Jesus seem real to you, or does God feel distant and abstract? Let’s ask God to engage our senses in knowing Him and ask that He would grow our understanding of Him more tangibly.

REPOSTToday’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on December 23, 2018, is provided by Joshua Chzen. Joshua recently moved to Houston be part of a new church plant.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Imperfect Love”

Ephesians 5:28-30

In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body.

After living with my wife for a few months, she pointed out a bad habit of mine that I hadn’t really paid attention to before. (In truth, there were quite a few things that needed to be pointed out ☺.) I love eating junk food, and I love eating it late at night. When we moved to our new apartment, there were two Jack-in-the-Box restaurants within a mile of us. Personally, I didn’t think much of it—

after a long day of work, I viewed it as a fair way to treat myself to something satisfying. It was my way of “loving myself”, even if a little bit indulgent. Of course, this sort of habit would be detrimental to my health both in the short and long term, which is why my wife took issue with it in the first place. 

In reality, my imperfect way of loving myself affects not only myself, but my wife as well. Paul directs husbands to love their wives as their own bodies, and he’s talking about complete selflessness in love and attitude. But even as I look at how my heart is shaped through something like indulging myself, I can see that same heart reflected in how I love and care for my wife. On the other end, if my desire is to grow in and prioritize holiness, then I will love and care for my wife in a way that reflects that for her. The way I “feed and care for my body” will be the same as how I “feed and care for” my wife.

This makes it all the more important to pursue a life of love in Christ. We understand how Jesus “feeds and cares for” his body, the church. He sacrifices himself for it; he builds it up and equips it; he casts out its fears and covers its weaknesses; and he brings it to holiness, righteousness, and purity. As members of his body, we can personally experience this perfect love. And we understand that, as Jesus calls us to love others as we love ourselves, he’s not referring to an imperfect love that’s been shaped and affected by worldly understanding or fleshly desire; on the contrary, he’s calling on all of us to reflect that same perfect love that we experience as Christ himself loves his body.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for loving me and caring for me as part of Your body. Show me how to love like You do—and if it seems unnatural, difficult, or in conflict with where I am, I pray that You would reorient my heart back to You. In Jesus name, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 8