August 22, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on December 27, 2017, is provided by Phillip Chen who is associate pastor at Kairos Christian Church in San Diego. Phil is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Keeping Our Promises”

Genesis 31:43-50 (ESV):

Then Laban answered and said to Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day for these my daughters or for their children whom they have borne? 44 Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I. And let it be a witness between you and me.” 45 So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. 46 And Jacob said to his kinsmen, “Gather stones.” And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap. 47 Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha,but Jacob called it Galeed. 48 Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me today.” Therefore, he named it Galeed, 49 and Mizpah, for he said, “The Lord watch between you and me, when we are out of one another’s sight. 50 If you oppress my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no one is with us, see, God is witness between you and me.”

Our church is notorious for having a lot of leftover snacks—from the leftover snacks of different retreats to the snacks that each of our ministries buy for future events, there is always food lying around somewhere. And what I’ve learned is to make sure to label everything, if I am saving it for something—otherwise, it will most definitely get eaten. Sometimes, even the snacks that are labeled get taken! So recently, I’ve started labeling our snacks with our ministry name, and then adding the line: “Please do not take, God is watching you.” Hopefully, this will deter whoever has been taking my snacks. I might not be there to protect these snacks from being stolen, but God is watching. The funny thing is, more often than not, this is a great deterrent. 

In this passage, we see that Laban and Jacob are getting ready to part ways. If you remember, Jacob had fled, with his wives and his flock, but Laban had caught up to him. He accused Jacob of stealing his household gods, but they were nowhere to be found. As Laban is about to leave to return home, they take a bunch of stones and make a tower with it, calling it Galeed, which means “a heap of witness,” and Mizpah, which means “watchtower.” This heap of stones is to act as a watchtower to watch over both sides of the family, when they cannot see one another. 

If you google Mizpah, you’ll see pendants that sell pretty well. Apparently, people have monetized it and made it into a romantic item, where “The Lord watch between you and me, when we are out of one another’s sight,” is a symbolic token of God watching over their love for one another. However, in the context of this passage, Mizpah is more of a warning—that God is watching whatever they do in the dark, and that God will be the final judge in these matters. 

Sometimes we forget the fact that God is always watching—whether it’s the business deals or in our dealing with the different relationships that we have. Do we do things with the understanding that God is watching our every move?  In Luke 12:3, Jesus says that whatever is said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what is whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops. Sometimes we may get freaked out that we are being watched (especially with the NSA surveillance leak), but we should actually be comforted by the fact that our God is the ultimate watchtower of our lives, watching us for our well-being. May we live our lives with integrity and purity in light of this reminder that our God is the ultimate watchtower of our lives. 

Prayer: Lord, we thank You for being the watchtower in our lives. Thank You that Your loving eyes are upon us, both in the good times and in the bad times. We ask for Your eyes of love and hand of protection to be upon us. May we live our lives in a way that is godly and honoring to You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Samuel 14

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 139:1-12 (ESV): O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. 7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

Question to Consider

1. What is the psalmist trying to communicate?

2. What patterns do you notice in this psalm?

3. Read this psalm in its entirety twice, then pause and ask God to speak to you through this psalm. What is He saying?

Notes

1. The psalmist is communicating that God is always with him. The key verse is verse 7, where David says that he cannot run away from God’s presence. Whether he goes down to Sheol, or if he ascends up to the heavens, God’s presence is always with him. His eyes are always upon him. 

2. David uses contrasts (opposite ends of the spectrum) to explain this idea that God is always with him. Whether he is in the heavens or in the pits of Sheol, God is with him. Whether he is taken up in the wings of the morning or in the uttermost parts of the sea, God is there leading him. Whether he is in darkness or light, God is there with him. Whether he is laying down or rising, God is with him.  

3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

How do you react to the fact that God is a watchtower in your life? Does it bring you comfort? Does it bring you peace? Does it bring you anxiety or fear? Bring this up to the Lord and allow Him to minister to you tonight.

August 21, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was first posted on June 28, 2017.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“It’s Not Over Until God Says It’s Over”

Revelation 11:7-14

When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9 Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. 11 But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

I’ve spent much of my time studying Revelation in preparation for these quiet times in worship and adoration of God. His power and majesty are just so evident in John’s visions (even as I struggle to fully interpret the particulars of the events). Today’s passage is no different. God’s prophets, with all the power and authority that we talked about yesterday, complete the mission God has given them. But then something unexpected (to me at least) happens—they die. God allows their lives to be taken and the wicked to rejoice over them. It’s a terrible scene. But, as is always the case with God, death isn’t the end of the story. God breathes life back into them—just to show off, it seems, since their work is already done—and brings them up to heaven with Him while the world watches.  

The older I get and the longer I walk with God (and get to know those who’ve walked with Him a long time), the more I encounter seasons of unexpected disappointments. In devotion to God, we find ourselves thirsty in the wilderness. In obedience to Him, we find ourselves smack dab in the middle of a storm on the sea where death seems imminent and all seems lost. In those times I am reminded of the saints who have gone before and the end of their stories. No matter how dark the clouds and even when death itself comes knocking at our door, we know who has the last word. We will not be taken out of the game before our job is done, and we won’t stay down forever because when the time is right, God’s people will absolutely get up and rise to abundant life with Him.   

I am reminded of an oft-quoted dialogue at the end of The Lord of the Rings, where Sam asks Gandalf if everything sad is going to come untrue. We can take heart, no matter what twists and turns our journey brings, because we know Who sits on the throne, the good work He is accomplishing, and the end of the story He’s writing—an end where all the sad things do indeed come untrue. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit and Your power at work in me. Thank You for calling me Your child and friend and making me Your ambassador in the world. May I not squander the authority and power You’ve given me to accomplish Your purposes (even in small ways) as I go throughout my day today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.   

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Samuel 13

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 16:24-28: Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds. 28 “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Questions to Consider: 

  1. What do Jesus’ words in verse 24 remind us about the nature of discipleship (or following Jesus)? 
  2. What promise are we given in these verses if we choose the tough road of discipleship? How does this encourage you in your walk with God today (in light of the specific things you’re facing)? 
  3. What are some ways God is calling you deeper into genuine discipleship? What, if anything, is holding you back from the kind of pursuit of Jesus that we read about in the verses above? 


Notes:

  1. Discipleship is costly. We offer our whole lives (Romans 12:1-2) to the Lord and that offering is often painful and difficult (because of the nature of our fallen hearts and this fallen world). Discipleship in this verse has four components: we come after Jesus (surrender), deny ourselves (saying no to what we want), take up our cross (willingly participate in the work God has for us to do—even the costly kind), and follow Him (take our direction and cues for Christ through His word and Spirit). There is nothing easy about it! 
  2. We are promised that if we choose to lose our lives (literally and figuratively) for the sake of Christ (or in pursuit of Him), we will be granted life—a true and abundant life. And we know from other passages that we taste that life even now, while we’re still on this side of heaven (Mark 10:29-30). Spend time considering what specific ways that promise encourages you today. 
  3. Spend some time in personal reflection. 

Evening Reflection

In 1904 William Borden, heir to the Borden Dairy Estate, graduated from a Chicago high school a millionaire. His parents gave him a trip around the world. Traveling through Asia, the Middle East, and Europe gave Borden a burden for the world’s hurting people. Writing home, he said, “I’m going to give my life to prepare for the mission field.” When he made this decision, he wrote in the back of his Bible two words: No Reserves. Turning down high paying job offers after graduation from Yale University, he entered two more words in his Bible: No Retreats. Completing studies at Princeton Seminary, Borden sailed for China to work with Muslims, stopping first at Egypt for some preparation. While there he was stricken with cerebral meningitis and died within a month. A waste, you say! Not in God’s plan. In his Bible underneath the words No Reserves and No Retreats, he had written the words No Regrets. (Dec 31, 1988 Daily Bread)

I first read this story as I prepared for a short-term missions trip and have returned to it often as a reminder that there is nothing wasted in God’s economy. Are you living with no reserves, retreats, and regrets? If no, why not? What are the areas in your life that you are keeping reserves? When are the moments when you tend to retreat? Spend some time offering those areas to God so that when it’s all said and done you too can say you have no regrets!

August 20, Tuesday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on November 28, 2017, is written by Pastor David Son who pastors the Thrive Church in Taipei.  He is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley (BA) and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Stay up to date with the church by following them here: https://www.instagram.com/thrivechurchtaipei/

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“An Example of Integrity”

Genesis 23:8-16

And he said to them, “If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me and entreat for me Ephron the son of Zohar, that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns; it is at the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me in your presence as property for a burying place.”Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites, and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites, of all who went in at the gate of his city, “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the sight of the sons of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.” Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land. And he said to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, “But if you will, hear me: I give the price of the field. Accept it from me, that I may bury my dead there.” Ephron answered Abraham, “My lord, listen to me: a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.” Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver that he had named in the hearing of the Hittites, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weights current among the merchants.

Most American retail stores don’t operate on a system where prices are negotiable. But in many parts of the world, negotiating prices is a normal part of the business culture. If you’ve ever sold or purchased anything through Craigslist, you may have an idea of how temperamental and even volatile these transactions can be. In our passage today, Abraham enters into a negotiation with Ephron the Hittite for a plot of land. If there is anything we can learn from this passage, it’s the exemplary integrity of Abraham in a business setting.

  • First, they hold the transaction in a public place, the gate of the city in front of all the people. They could have done this deal privately, behind closed doors, but he was intentional about being transparent in his business dealing. 
  • Second, Abraham shows respect by bowing before the people. The Hittites were not exactly Abraham’s friends. They didn’t follow God; they weren’t part of the community of faith. In fact, they would later become enemies of the descendants of Abraham. Nevertheless, Abraham treats them with respect.
  • Third, Abraham listens to Ephron and then insists on paying the full price. It may seem like Ephron is trying to gift the land to Abraham, but this back-and-forth dialogue was actually the customary way to bargain. When Ephron hints that the land is worth “four hundred shekels” he is effectively naming his price. Rather than haggle for the lowest possible bargain, Abraham gives him what he asks. Furthermore, Scripture mentions that he used the current weight measurements to ensure that he wasn’t swindling Ephron.

Could Abraham have gotten a better deal? Probably. Could Abraham have muscled his way onto the land and taken it by force? Perhaps. Why, then, does Abraham insist on paying full price, with full transparency, and respect, when dealing with strangers/enemies? Abraham wasn’t a sucker who overpaid the Hittites. Rather, there was a sense of honor and integrity that Abraham carried with him, even in the midst of business transactions. I can imagine that Ephron and the surrounding citizens must have been confused as Abraham began counting off four hundred shekels without even attempting to bargain. Prior to the meeting, one can assume that the Hittites were bracing for a heated exchange of negotiations. Instead, Abraham came to them, showing transparency, respect, integrity, and generosity. 

Drawing from the example of Abraham, let us carry the character of God with us into our workplaces and classrooms today. Instead of approaching our work with worldly intent, let us approach it with godly intent. I believe that doing so will fundamentally change the nature of our work. 

Sources Used:

https://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/genesis-12-50-and-work/abraham-genesis-121-2511/a-burial-plot-for-sarah-genesis-231-20
https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/archives/guzik_david/studyguide_gen/gen_23.cfm

Prayer: Lord, help us to walk with transparency, respect, integrity, and generosity, not just within the church walls, but wherever we go. Transform the fundamental nature of the work of our hands, so that it may glorify You, as well as to testify of Your character to those looking on. Highlight the areas in which we are lacking godly character so that we may repent. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Samuel 12

Lunch Break Study

Read Joshua 7:1-5: But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the Lord burned against the people of Israel. Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” And the men went up and spied out Ai. And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not have all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not make the whole people toil up there, for they are few.” So about three thousand men went up there from the people. And they fled before the men of Ai, and the men of Ai killed about thirty-six of their men and chased them before the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them at the descent. And the hearts of the people melted and became as water.

Questions to Consider

  1. According to this passage, in what way(s) did the people of Israel break the faith?
  2. What was the consequence of this breach in faith?
  3. What does this story tell us about the effect of hidden sin?

Notes

  1. Joshua 7 tells us that the people of Israel broke faith because one person, Achan, took some of the devoted things. In other words, the entire nation was at fault because of the sin of one man.
  2. Because of the sin of Achan, the anger of the Lord burned against the entire nation of Israel. Their very next military endeavor turned out to be a complete failure. They lost the battle and 36 of their men were killed. Furthermore, the hearts of the people “melted and became as water” because of this defeat. At first, this may seem like a small loss, but you have to realize that until this point, this Israelite army had not lost a battle. Big or small, they always won because they knew that God was on their side, fighting for them. This defeat was demoralizing because it meant that something wasn’t right with the Lord. All of a sudden, He wasn’t fighting for them anymore… and that was a terrifying thought.
  3. It’s shocking to see that God would withdraw His presence because of the sin of one person. This shows us how severe it is to keep hidden sin. It doesn’t just affect the one person; it affects the entire community. Of course, the power of Jesus’ blood is enough to cover and forgive every sin. Nevertheless, when we choose to incubate hidden sins, the consequences can be tremendous, even tragic. If you are part of a community of faith, let us practice walking in the light.

Evening Reflection

This evening, spend some time praying for your workplace/campus/neighborhood. Oftentimes, it’s hard for us to sense God’s presence in these places. But let us grow in our faith that God is just as alive in these places as He is in the place of our corporate worship. What are some ways you can serve and bless the people outside of church?

August 19, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was first posted on September 22, 2017.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Grief Of God”

Genesis 5:21-24

Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 The Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.”

“No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid. The same fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness, the yawning. I keep on swallowing. At other times it feels like being mildly drunk, or concussed. There is a sort of invisible blanket between the world and me. I find it hard to take in what anyone says. Or perhaps, hard to want to take it in. It is so uninteresting. Yet I want the others to be about me. I dread the moments when the house is empty. If only they would talk to one another and not to me.” (C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed)

After the death of his wife, C.S. Lewis kept a journal chronicling his grief. Those journal entries became a book called A Grief Observed. In this small but impactful volume, readers are granted privileged access to private moments of a faithful saint searching for God in the midst of life’s greatest darkness. In the excerpt above, Lewis describes the experience and sensation of grief in vivid detail. For those of us who’ve faced times of grief, it is not hard to access Lewis’ words. 

Take a moment now to remember a time when you experienced grief. How would you describe that experience? 

Imagining Lewis’ grief after the death of his wife is not a challenging exercise. What is difficult to imagine (for me at least) is God suffering grief and coping with loss. Yet in Genesis 6, we are told of a time when God experienced deep regret after making humanity because of their wickedness and sin. God grieved. Growing up around the church I’ve heard the phrase, “Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit” (maybe you have too), but seeing God’s grief here in such emotive language is tough. 

The sins of humanity—my sins and your sins—utterly break God’s heart. Yet we willingly sin everyday. As people in relationship with God, may we desire to live in a way that delights the heart of God, not break it.   

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me enough to be brokenhearted over my brokenness. Thank You for caring about the world enough to be grieved over sin. Help me today to be more aware of You, and how the things I do make You feel. Help me to also remember that You didn’t stop at grief, You moved forward to redemption and restoration. May I take hold of that today.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Samuel 11

Lunch Break Study

Read Genesis 5:21-24: Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.   

6 The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 The Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.”

Ephesians 5:25-31: Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. 26 Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not give the devil an opportunity. 28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. 29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Questions to Consider

  1. According to these two passages, what kinds of things grieve God? 
  2. As a person who is in a relationship with God, how does being aware of God’s grief over sin affect you? 
  3. What are some specific things Paul reminds us to do in Ephesians 5 to keep us from walking in sin? Which things from this list strike you most today as areas where you can walk in greater obedience? (Try to pick one specific area.)

Notes

  1. Sin grieves the heart of God – evil intent in our hearts and minds and wicked deeds in our daily lives. One important theme in Ephesians 4 is God’s displeasure over our mistreatment of one another. In these verses we are warned not to behave wickedly toward one another and then reminded not to cause God grief. 
  2. Spend some time in personal reflection. 
  3. Paul tells us (1) stop lying and speak truth, (2) stop sinning in our anger, (3) stop stealing and work and to the community from our work, (4) speak in a manner that is edifying and gives grace to the hearer, (5) get rid of bitterness, (6) get rid of wrath, (7) get rid of anger, (8) get rid of clamoring, (9) don’t slander anyone, (10) get rid of malice, (11) be kind and tender-hearted to others, (12) forgive as we’ve been forgiven.  

Evening Reflection

In an article for Christianity today, Pastor Rob Strong reflects the topic, “What brings God joy?”:

“When my wife surprises me with ‘taco night’ at our house, that makes me happy. When I find a few spare dollars in my pocket or time to sit for my favorite movie, that also makes me happy. But joy is different. Joy is deeper than happiness and rises from within the soul rather than from circumstance. It redefines a situation, makes it more meaningful, and you feel it in your bones. When one of my children climbs on my lap and wants to be held, I experience joy. Or when I have a thoughtful conversation with someone who is considering a more meaningful understanding of God, that brings me joy. Or when I can spend time with [my wife] at our favorite restaurant, alone, just connecting. Yes, that brings me incredible joy. Now consider God. What could he possibly want or need that would cause him to pause, take notice, and then smile? What would provoke joy in the Creator’s heart and make him want to shout throughout the heavens?” 

The simple answer is you. Among the things that delight the heart of God is His intimacy and fellowship with you. Spend some time alone and connecting with God tonight. This could be through prayer, listening to worship music, reading Scripture, practicing the presence of God, etc. The best way may be to just talk to God about your day, the way you would a friend and enjoy God’s company. Be sure to spend some of the time listening (as God likes to share His heart as well). 

August 18, Sunday

UPDATE Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on October1, 2017, is provided by Pastor David Kwon who leads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina.  David is a graduate of Drexel University (B.S.) and Columbia International University (M.Div.).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Our Covenant God”

Genesis 8:21-22

And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”

Recently, my wife and I decided to give our older daughters an allowance based on how well they listen and if they are helpful doing choirs around the house.  I have to admit that my daughters were pretty excited about this as it gives them a way to save money and get a gift they want for the future.  The allowance system is based on a promise that was made between my children and me and because of their trust in their parents; they know that they will be rewarded.  

In today’s passage, we also see a promise made by God to Noah.  This promise is called a covenant, which is structured agreements between God and man.   In Scripture, God made covenants with, Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus. In the covenant with Noah, the Lord promised never again to destroy all life with a (universal) flood (8:20-9:17). He also pledges to sustain the seasonal cycle, and thus the general stability of nature. 


You might be asking, what’s the point of all of this?  We need to understand that covenants were based on God’s love for His people.  If you ever doubted God’s love for you, the Gospel reminds us that the New Covenant is the promise that God makes with humanity that He will forgive sin and restore fellowship with those whose hearts are turned toward Him. Jesus Christ is the mediator of the New Covenant, and His death on the cross is the basis of the promise (Luke 22:20). 


Spend some time this morning reflecting on His love for you.  He loves you so much that He made a way, through Jesus, that we could receive His grace and salvation.   Ask the Lord that you would understand and experience more of His great love.


Prayer:  Lord, thank You for the covenants in the Bible because it shows Your love for us.  Even when we fail to keep our end, You still shower us with Your unconditional love because You are the great Promise Keeper.  Amen.  

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Samuel 10

August 17, Saturday

REPOST  Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Doug Tritton, was first posted on October 7, 2017.  A graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), Doug is the Lead Pastor of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia. 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Table of Nations”

Genesis 10:1

These are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood.

Genealogies can be difficult to read in the Old Testament. Often, we may think to ourselves, “I can just skip these chapters and move onto the important parts of the Bible.” This is certainly tempting, but these chapters are also God’s word, so we should not ignore them. 

In the Book of Genesis, genealogies play an important role. They serve as the transition points between different sections of the Book. Chapters 10-11 essentially serve as a single genealogy (with the story of Babel sandwiched inside), which sets the stage for Abraham. Genesis 1-11 basically is an extended introduction to the story of Israel, which begins in Genesis 12 with the calling of Abraham.

But what is important to realize with this genealogy here is that all these descendants came from Noah. V.32 later in this chapter says this, “These are the clans of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, in their nations, and from these the nations spread abroad on the earth after the flood.” From Noah, the ancient world as we know it came to be. Remember, Noah had found favor in God’s eyes (Gen. 6:8) and was righteous and walked with God (Gen. 6:9). This was the man from whom the nations of the ancient world came to be. The nations of the earth had a heritage of righteousness and favor with God. Thus, it is not surprising that God had called Abraham to be a blessing to the nations (See Gen. 12:1-3; Gal. 3:6-9). God wanted to call the nations back to Himself.

Genesis chapter 10 is called the Table of Nations. Let us remember that our God is One who loves the nations – He is the one who formed them in the first place! There is no nation that is outside the sphere of His love and desire. Today, let’s pray for this world, for the nations, for God to restore these nations back to the heritage of righteousness and favor. May the church, the new Israel (Rom. 2:28-9; Gal. 3:7), be a blessing to the nations!

Prayer: Lord, thank You for this genealogy, thank You that You are not just the God of a select few, but You are the God of the nations. May we remember Your passion to bless the nations, and may you use us to be that blessing. Lord, may we be a people who pray for Your will to be done here and abroad, as it is done in Heaven. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Samuel 8-9

August 16, Friday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on December 5, 2017, is provided by Andy Kim who is the Lead Pastor of Radiance Christian Church in San Francisco.  Andy is a graduate of Northwestern University (B.S.) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Chase”

Genesis 25:29-34

 Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted.30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom. 31 Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.”32 Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” 33 Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

Every year, America witnesses the inner savage in all humans—we call it Black Friday shopping. In the past, shoppers have actually pulled out guns but people still refused to let go of televisions and computers even as they were getting shot at. This year, a shopper threw a shoe at a poor innocent baby while trying to beat the rush.  Suffice it to say, we can all agree that Black Friday shopping has taken over and destroyed the meaning of Thanksgiving. Rather than celebrating with families and friends and thinking of the years’ past blessings, people sit in tents waiting in lines, fighting one another. Over what? Just to save some money on items that will soon be outdated. 

In our passage today, Esau trades his birthright for a lousy bowl of soup because of his physical hunger. During the Mosaic times, the birthright, especially of the first child, meant a double portion of the family inheritance. It was their identity as the one to carry on the family line. Growing up, I always thought that Jacob was the conniving villain and Esau was just a naïve victim. But as I read this passage carefully I realized that, although Jacob deceived his brother, Esau had a great fault of his own. He failed to recognize the value and importance of his birthright; he did not fully understand the depth of the inheritance promised to him. As a result,  Esau traded away something valuable for that which would only satisfy his immediate physical need, only to regret it forever.

The stories of Black Friday may seem comical, but the reality is, how often have we fallen into the same trap? How often do we chase after things of the world, putting our value and identity in them only to be disappointed?  Sure, we can say that’s life and we are simply victims of it, but at what cost? May we never lose sight of our true identity and the inheritance that awaits all those who believe in the eternal value of salvation. It’s not to say other things are not important and that we shouldn’t pursue them; but it is to pursue them in light of our eternal inheritance. We all have been given something far greater than what this world could ever offer. May we never trade our identities as co-heirs to His kingdom for the fading temporary pleasures of this world. 

Prayer: Father, we confess that many times we put things before You because we think it will satisfy us. However, we know that all these are temporary pleasures, for only You can truly satisfy us. Would You strengthen us in times when we are tempted to forget this truth? Help us to live our lives in light of our eternal inheritance. 

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Samuel 7

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 8:14-17: For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Questions to Consider

  1. What does it mean to be led by the Spirit of God? How does this change our relationship with God?
  2. What does it mean for us to be adopted? What are the implications of this?
  3. What is the inheritance given to us as sons and daughters?

Notes

  1. Paul states that only those who are led by the spirit can come into a new relationship as sons of God. He contrasts this with the relationship between slaves and their masters. Slaves have no authority in their lives and must listen to their masters. Paul is referring to our state prior to salvation when we were slaves to the flesh under the law. Slaves serve their masters out of fear of being punished; but as sons, we no longer serve out of such fear. Instead, as sons, we have a lasting relationship where we address God as “Father”. 
  2. In our modern context, the word adoption brings up images of legal papers and processes. However, commentator Warren Wiersbe writes: “The literal meaning of the Greel
  3. word is “son-placing”—the taking of a minor (whether in the family or outside) and making him or her the rightful heir.  As heirs, we are then given an inheritance to His kingdom. We have been adopted into God’s family by the Spirit, and not by our own merit.
  4. Paul is talking about an eternal inheritance that awaits us—the glory that we will share with Christ! Note, Paul makes a distinction that such glory comes with some suffering along the way. This suffering refers to the discipline that, as believers, we are to live by (Paul speaks of such disciplined life in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27).  But such discipline pales in comparison to “what is in store for us is so grand and glorious that it will be, and will feel, as though we each had alone gotten most of the glory of God” (Timothy Keller). 

Evening Reflection

The 1980’s American classic Annie is a film about an orphan girl who lives under the mistreatment of Miss Hannigan, an abusive alcoholic. The story takes a turn when a billionaire decides to adopt an orphan for a week to boost his public image. Annie is chosen and her life is forever changed as she lives in a lavish house with everything at her fingertips. The story ends with the billionaire eventually adopting Annie as his own daughter. Her life is forever changed from living in a broken run down house under a terrible caretaker, to a lavish mansion under the love and care of her new father. 

May we be reminded that we too were once orphans in this world. And in our hopelessness, God has adopted us as his sons and daughters. Remember we are heirs to His kingdom and we now have full access to all that is His. Spend some time reflecting on this truth.  

August 15, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on November 15, 2017, is provided by Jennifer Kim who, at the time of writing, was serving at the Church of Southland, Anaheim, California. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Great Lesson Learned from My Lost Key”

Luke 15:4-7

“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

Upon returning from our church retreat a couple months ago, I discovered that I had lost my car keys.  Immediately, I went into a panic mode and began searching everything around me.  I frantically checked all of my belongings, every vehicle I had entered, and every room I set my foot in.  When some of the church members noticed my predicament, they quickly jumped in and helped me search for my keys as well.  One of my friends even went as far as to call the retreat site and ask about any lost items.  After a couple hours passed by, I came to the unfortunate reality that my keys were officially lost.

Throughout the following weeks, not a day went by without me thinking about my keys.  I found myself constantly retracing my steps, forwards and backwards, in hopes that I may have overlooked a spot where I could have misplaced them.  I called the retreat site again multiple times and searched our entire church building with a sense of determination.  However, after two full weeks of incessant searching, I was left disappointed and ready to give up.  As I reluctantly made the decision to move forward and make the necessary replacements, I received an unexpected text from one of our staff members.  To my surprise, my keys had been discovered in the back crevice of one of the church vans.  I literally leapt to my feet and was filled with an overwhelming sense of relief and happiness.  My keys were finally found!

As silly as this story may be, I am reminded of the relentless love of our God.  If we, being merely men, have such concern for a couple scraps of metal, how much more does our Heavenly Father have concern for those who are completely lost and without hope? Here, we see a God who actively pursues us in our desperate need.  He does not leave us to fend for ourselves, but His eyes watch over us with careful attention.

As we reflect on this short passage this morning, let us be reminded of God’s great love for us.  That no matter where we have been or what we have done, God never rejects a heart that is broken and contrite before Him (Ps. 51:17).  He opposes the proud, but rejoices over a heart of humility.  Let us give thanks to God for how far He has carried us up until this point.  But not only that, as we have been recipients of God’s undeserving grace, may we also seek to exemplify the heart of our Father and become a channel of God’s blessing to those around us.  Perhaps God is nudging you to be the very display of His care to another.  Whether this is to extend a helping hand or a listening ear to a friend, family member, or co-worker, may you be used by God to be a source of fresh hope and encouragement today!

Prayer: God, thank You for being a Father who never gives up on me.  Help me to have a heart that is tender before You and actively seek to be an extension of Your love and care to others.  In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Samuel 6

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 18:9-14: And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Questions to Consider

  1. How did the Pharisee measure his standing and righteousness before God?
  2. What was the tax collector’s posture before God?
  3. Why was the tax collector’s prayer to God more justified than the Pharisee?

Notes

  1. The Pharisee depended upon his own religious works and performance.  He thought himself to be more superior to others because of how much he fasted and tithed to God (v.12).
  2. The tax collector was aware of his sinfulness and desperately pleaded for God’s mercy (v. 13).
  3. The Pharisee was full of pride and was impressed with his own ability to perform religious works.  He was completely unaware of His desperate need for God and thought he was better than the tax collector.  On the other hand, the tax collector understood the gravity of his sin and felt unworthy to approach a holy God.  He knew that only God could ultimately save him from his sinful condition.  He humbled himself before God’s saving mercy rather than relying on his own righteousness.

Evening Reflection

Take some time to reflect on everything that happened today.  In what ways were you a channel of God’s blessing to those around you?  In what ways did you struggle to be a display of God’s love?  Pray for strength and ask God to fill you with His love and compassion.

August 14, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on November 22, 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.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“‘Marriage is Hard.’ Why?”

Genesis 21.8-14 (ESV)

And the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. 9 But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, laughing. 10 So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.” 11 And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son. 12 But God said to Abraham, “Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named. 13 And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring.” 14 So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

Someone once told me marriage is hard because it is the first time that you are forced to truly live with yourself. And this realization of who we truly are is not always a fun experience. For me, I didn’t realize how much I had tailored my life to fit my needs and desires until this “customized” life began conflicting with my wife’s way of doing things. My preferences on where shoes are stored to how certain chores are done were different from my wife’s. And through this conflict of preferences, I came to realize how particular I could be and how deep my selfishness goes. 

The truth is, the people in our lives are often the best reflections of our true character, especially those that we live in close proximity. Spouses are good examples, but so are co-workers, classmates, and even our friendships. Relationships become strained because they often show us the realest—and often darkest—parts of our character. 

We see a true glimpse of who Sarah is in the passage by how she deals with Hagar. What triggers Sarah this time is the sight of Ishmael doing something in particular—laughing (v. 9). Now it’s not clear what the purpose of including this detail might be, but this act of laughing has a long history with Sarah. As we discussed in yesterday’s QT, laughing was one of the things that describe Sarah’s transformation from disbelief into faith. Commentators note that the kind of laughing Ishmael does is much like the mocking, incredulous laughter of Sarah in Genesis 18.

And when you consider who Hagar is, her history with Sarah and Abraham, who Ishmael is, and what God has done by giving Isaac to Sarah, you start to wonder about the nature of Sarah’s disdain towards Hagar. Could it be the Hagar is a reminder of Sarah’s lack of faith? Is Hagar visual proof of Sarah’s past mistakes, of when she tried to take things into her own hands and not trusting in the Lord? Sometimes those that we dislike the most are the most accurate reflections of our true selves. In most cases, our lack of grace towards them is not so much about the other person; it’s our lack of grace towards ourselves. It’s our unwillingness to face and deal with our true selves with the living God. So we rather send our Hagars away. 

But we know that unless we deal with these things, they will keep coming back as we are often the source of these things, not the other individuals. In what ways are we pushing away the Hagars in our lives?  Something to think about!  

Prayer: Father, we thank You for Your constant work in us. We believe that the blood of Jesus covers us, that we are justified in Him. But we also recognize that the Holy Spirit is daily changing our character to become more like Your Son. We often resist this change; we ask for the grace to trust You through the pruning process so that we may bear much fruit. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Samuel 5

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 139:1-6, 23-24 (ESV): Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. . .. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!  Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Questions to Consider

  1. In considering the first part of this psalm (you may consider reading the whole psalm if time permits), what is the picture the of God’s knowledge and understanding that the psalmist paints?
  2. In verse 6, the psalmist writes that such knowledge is too wonderful for me. When considering such wonderful knowledge, how should we response when these things are revealed to us by the Lord? 
  3. In verses 23-24, what does the psalmist pray? Does this reflect the heart you have towards the Lord? Why or why not?

Notes

  1. The picture that the psalmist paints of God’s knowledge is all encompassing. Consider the words that he uses—God’s knowledge encompasses time and inner thoughts, our future and our ways (v.3), our inner most thoughts before they are spoken (v.4), He surrounds you all around (v.5). God’s understanding and presence in our lives is not merely one-dimensional.
  2. It is a fearful thing to be known by such an extraordinary God. He sees and knows all thing, a knowledge indeed too wonderful for us to hold. And yet in His perfect wisdom, out of His perfect love, God chooses to reveal certain things to us. Particularly, He reveals the things that are keeping us from Him. This knowledge is indeed wonderful though often painful to acknowledge. Yet when we consider the opposite of not knowing, might our response to this revelation be different?
  3. The words here are the same as the beginning but different. There is a sense of invitation here. The psalmist is inviting God to search him. It is not permissive (as God already has and knows) but rather relational. The prayer is that God would reveal to him anything grievous so that he may walk in the ways of everlasting God.

Evening Reflection

We have spent the day reflecting upon how God may be revealing things about our character through those that we may have the hardest time with. One reality we must not neglect in this is that although these things are often more about us than about the other person, it nevertheless has consequences for that person as well. There was real rejection and exiling of Hagar in the passage, not just mentally or emotionally. As you pray about these relationships and what it might reveal about your character, spend some time praying for the Hagars in our lives, that God might bring reconciliation and healing to these relationships. 

August 13, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on November 14, 2017, is provided by Jennifer Kim who served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Saving Friendship”

Mark 2:1-5

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

During my senior year in college, I started experiencing these awful “night terrors”, in which I would wake up in sheer panic and fear. It was a very bizarre experience, but as a result I actually became afraid to go to bed. After a few weeks of dealing with this, I became desperate for healing and I knew I had to share with my roommates. That very night, as I mustered up the courage to share, they decided to tuck me into bed and pray over me. In my exhaustion I fell asleep as they were praying, but in the middle of the night I startled myself awake, not out of fear or panic, but to use the restroom, completely unaware that I had gone almost the entire night without a single nightmare. But as I was getting out of bed I noticed all three of my roommates huddled together sleeping on the floor of my 80 square feet room. As a matter of fact, because they could not all fit in my room, one of them was sleeping in the hallway of our apartment. From that night on, I never woke up in panic or fear again—I was completely healed.

In today’s passage we read a similar story of four friends who carried a paralytic to Jesus to be healed, but seeing that they could not get to Jesus, they climbed the roof and made a hole to lower him down. For these men, what mattered most was not what others would think, or the inconvenience of having to carry the paralytic up a roof and make a hole to lower him down; it didn’t even matter to them what the cost would be in damaging the roof of this home. How easy it would have been for the friends to have given up or to make excuses, but instead they went out of their way to see the one they love be healed. As Jesus witnessed the sacrificial act of the four friends, he states that it was the faith of these men that healed the paralytic.

It was the prayers of my roommates that healed me that day; and the love I witnessed through my friends as they laid on my bedroom floor showed me the love the Father. Friendship is one of the greatest gifts God has given us, and we learn through today’s story that a good friend is someone who is able to go above and beyond for the ones they love, and point you to Jesus our healer. A good friend is able to lift up those in need of healing and recognize that your faith can make a difference in their lives. 

Today I want to ask you whether you are being a good friend. Are you available and willing to inconvenience yourself to point the ones you love to Jesus? Are you encouraging others in faith or are your ways hurting the ones you care about? We are called to act in God’s love to the people God has entrusted us with, may we live our lives like the four friends whose faith healed the paralytic.

Prayer: God, thank You for the gift of friendship. I ask that You help me to be like the four friends in demonstrating sacrificial love. Help me to be someone that others can go to when they need to be pointed to Jesus. 

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Samuel 4

Lunch Break Study

Read John 15:15-17: I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

Questions to Consider

  1. Jesus states that we are no longer servants but friends. What distinguishes a servant of Jesus from a friend of Jesus? 
  2. While Jesus tells us that he is the initiator of this friendship, what does he say is the reason we are called into this friendship?
  3. Personal question: What stands in the way of deepening your friendship with Jesus?

Note

  1. Servants do not know the ways of their master, while friends share in all the knowledge that they have with one another.
  2. We are called to bear lasting fruit through the love of the Father in us. 
  3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

We learned from today’s morning devotional and lunch break study that the friendship we enjoy with Jesus is meant to be shared by loving others. Let’s reflect on our friendships and ask ourselves whether we are sharing the love of Jesus by loving the ones God has entrusted us with. Write down specific ways you can reach out to others in friendship and let’s put them to action!