REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on October 31, 2017, is provided by Emerson Lin. Emerson, who serves in E. Asia as a missionary, is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.).  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Covenant to Remember”

Genesis 17:9-14

Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. 10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. 13 Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

In elementary school, my friend and I would make pacts with each other. We promised to be best friends forever and to write letters if one of us moved away. To seal the pact, we drew a picture of our favorite superhero and gave it to each another. Unfortunately, both of these promises were broken by the time we moved onto middle school.

In this passage, God makes a covenant with Abraham and his descendants. The covenant entails that if Abraham and his descendants follow the Lord, He will flourish them as a people group: “The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you: and I will be their God” (v. 8).

Why did God heavily emphasize circumcision to Abraham in regard to the covenant? Like my friend and I, humanity is prone to break covenants with the Lord. In Scripture, there is a cycle of the Israelites disobeying the law of God and God restoring them. Therefore, to make things clear for the Israelites, God commands Abraham to circumcise males, so that it will be a constant reminder to follow the Lord. 

As believers, we constantly forget our covenant with the Lord. We understand that we are saved, yet we are quick to disobey and follow our own ways. However, the Lord helps us remember our covenant with Him through His sacraments. As we take the bread and the wine, we are reminded of the covenant God established with us through the blood of Jesus. This is God’s grace to us!

Prayer: Lord, help me to remember Your faithfulness in my life. I know that I am prone to forget, yet Your grace reminds me that Your ways are always better than mine. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 27

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Lunch Break Study

Read Joshua 4:4-7: So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, 5 and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”

Questions to Consider

1. What do the stones serve as? (v. 7)
2. Apart from the current Israelites, who else was the memorial for? Why is this important? (v.6)

Notes

1. The stones serve as a reminder for the people that God stopped the flow of the Jordan. 
2. Apart from the current Israelites, this memorial was intended for the Israelite children. It was expected for the parents to re-visit this memorial and teach their children about the faithfulness of God. As future descendants become more distant from this great miracle, they are more likely to forget. Therefore, it is the responsibility of past generations to remind them of God’s faithfulness. 

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Evening Reflection

In light of today’s sharing, what are some ways that you help remind yourself of the Lord’s covenant with you? If you are prone to forget, how can you better remember His faithfulness in your life?

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Charles Choe who leads Tapestry Church in Los Angeles, was first posted on October 25, 2017.  Charles is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Extent of God’s Love”

Genesis 15:9-21

He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half. 11 And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. 12 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. 14 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. 16 And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.”

An early crush I had in the seventh grade was a young blond name Tammy. She, to my shock, reciprocated my feelings. So we started passing notes between classes and eventually started “dating.” (I had no idea what that meant; I just knew it meant we had feelings for each other.) Things were going well, until one day after school—on a public bus no less— I heard the crushing news that she was beginning to develop feelings for one of my closest friends. It was devastating; I had never felt so much heartache before. It wouldn’t be the last time I would be disappointed with unrequited “love,”— but this first one really stung. 

In our story today, we find God is prepared to show the extent of His love. It starts with Abraham carrying animals to be sacrificed. In verse 10, Abraham—with a sharp blade—carves the animals in half. I can just imagine the smell, the sight of the warm blood soaking the soil, and the sound of groaning from the dying animals. All the work must have made him tired, as Abraham falls into deep sleep.  Then the next event takes us to the whole point of this ceremony: “When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates’” (verses 17-18). 

This is so understated, but in some cryptic way, the smoking pot and the blazing torch represents God—His visible manifestation passing between the pieces. To appreciate this, we have to know how covenants were sealed. Today, we use lawyers and legal documents, but back then, they would cut animals in half, and the two parties would walk through it—essentially saying, “Let it be done to me as it has been done to these animals if I break my oath.” And here, God condescends to reassure questioning man with a smoking fire pot and a blazing torch; God cuts a covenant with Abraham. 

Here is what this is saying to us: The promise is that God loves us with a steadfast love. This is anchored in His own character—not in what we do or don’t do. His love is steadfast, unchanging, and reliable. This is the key to His covenant. This is why God’s covenant with us is not bilateral. Only God pledges and walks through—Abraham is utterly passive. God assumes full responsibility for the covenant.  And do you know what this is called? Grace. One way love. So here’s the promise: God loves you and He always will.

Do you see what this is foreshadowing? Jesus. The Son of God’s flesh was torn like those animals. That was God fulfilling His promise: “I will be your God and you will be my people. I will rescue you, I will pour out my Spirit.” Every promise uttered was fulfilled in Christ. And we know this to be true by faith. Faith is God’s benevolence towards us; it’s founded on His promises and sealed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. And that’s the place where we have to go every day and let it capture our imagination, until more and more, it becomes our story. 

Prayer: God, help me to see the many ways You are faithful to me today. In every moment of fear, help me to my knees so that I can surrender all of my fears and worries to you. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 26

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Lunch Break Study

Read Galatians 3:13-20: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. 15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise. 19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.

Questions to Consider 

1. In verse 15, Paul first establishes the principle that even with a covenant among men, the covenant stands firm once it is made—no one annuls or adds to it. Why does Paul use this as an example? 

2. What purpose, then, does the law serve?  

3. What promise do you sense the Lord is telling you to hang on to?    

Notes

1. Paul’s point isn’t really about covenants among men, but he uses it as an example to say, “How much more will God keep His promises.” 

2. Part of the reason the law was given was to restrain the transgression of men through clearly revealing God’s holy standard. It was to keep us from destroying ourselves before the Messiah came. The law also clearly shows our rebellion against God’s holy standard, showing us more clearly our need for salvation in Jesus. 

3. Personal reflection.

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Evening Reflection

“God’s plan is not to abandon this world, the world which he said was “very good.” Rather, he intends to remake it. And when he does he will raise all his people to new bodily life to live in it. That is the promise of the Christian gospel.” –N.T. Wright

REPOSTToday’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on July 23, 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/

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“I’ll Bring You More than a Song”

Psalm 9:1-2

I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart;

I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

I will be glad and exult in you;

I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

When I was a single man, my singleness was sometimes a source of discouragement and frustration. There was one particular season that was especially hard – I had confessed my feelings of attraction to a friend, and she rejected me. The next few months, I found it difficult to sing praise songs. Most of the time I draw energy from those praising God around me, but during that time, seeing them discouraged me even more, because I felt even more disconnected from the Lord in comparison to those around me.

One Sunday morning, my lead pastor’s wife shared some small encouragement with me that l would never forget. She challenged me to take everything I was feeling, even the discouraging thoughts and frustrations, and put them in an imaginary jar, and then offer that jar to the Lord as my “worship.” She said that this kind of worship is some of the most precious to the Lord. As I listened, something in me came awake. At that moment I realized that worship isn’t merely about having the ability to sing praise to Him. Worship is about offering myself—my heart, my thoughts, my hopes—unto Him, and entrusting Him to do His will with me. This completely changed the way I worship the Lord, and it simultaneously reversed my perspective on my singleness. Whereas previously my discouragements would hinder my intimacy with the Lord, they now became opportunities to offer worship, and confess my trust in Him. In doing so, I found myself being glad in Him!

In today’s Psalm, David does mention “I will sing praise to your name…” but he also mentions three other ways to worship God: “I will give thanks… I will recount… I will be glad and exult in you…” This morning, as you worship the Lord, let your worship not simply be relegated to the singing of praise, but also remember to give thanks, consider what He has done for you, and be glad in Him!

Perhaps you are in a season where it is especially difficult to worship God through the singing of songs. If that’s you, I would encourage you to take the current state of your heart, and entrust it unto the Lord; let that be the worship that you bring to the Lord this morning.

Prayer: Lord, we offer our whole selves to You as a living sacrifice. We come just as we are: imperfect, broken, dissatisfied. But we come by the blood of Jesus Christ. Would You wash us clean this morning, and satisfy us with Your presence. In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 25

REPOSTToday’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on May 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.). 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Christ and Culture”

Revelation 2:12-17 (ESV)

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my fait] even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

Richard Neibuhr, in his book Christ and Culture, outlines the several different approaches people have taken to reconcile how Christians ought to interact with their culture: views range from “culture is evil” to “culture is ultimately good.” It a difficult challenge, as many of these views have been regarded as insufficient; and this has been a hot topic for the church for many generations. We definitely face this same challenge today. In today’s passage, Jesus speaks to the church in Pergamum, which was a place riddled with immorality and idolatry.

The city of Pergamum was one of the religious capitals of the Roman province in Asia, where there were many temples devoted to many different cults—including emperor worship and idol worship. This is the place where “Satan’s throne” dwells. The Christians are doing their best to hold fast to His name—denouncing idol worship—and Jesus commends them for that. Yet there are still some who hold the teaching of Balaam. What is the teaching of Balaam? He was the one who gave the Israelites poor counsel to intermarry with foreign women, which led to idol worship and sexual immorality (cultic prostitution) in their midst. This ultimately led to punishment from God through a plague that came upon their congregation. For the church in Pergamum this was an indictment but probably more of a warning for the church to remain pure. Not only were they to maintain sound doctrine, but they were to be very careful not to be caught up in the adulterous ways of their culture and society. Temptation was all around them.  To the faithful, they were warned to remain pure and steadfast, but for those who had fallen into temptation, they were warned to repent. 

In the same way, our culture and society has myriad of things that are not approved by our God, but we are reminded to remain pure and steadfast. Don’t get me wrong, there is much beauty in culture—but there are also many cultural acts and traditions that are twisted and perverse. In Neibuhr’s book, one position is called “Christ the Transformer of Culture,” and I believe this is the position we ought to take. We do not distance ourselves from culture, nor do we passively go along with culture, believing in its beauty; rather, we are to seek to bring Christ into our culture, allowing Him to transform our culture. With that in mind, we must also remember that above all, the battle we fight against isn’t against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12). Let’s devote ourselves to prayer and purity, so that we might win the culture for Christ!    

Prayer: Father God, it’s so easy to get caught up in the currents of society. We want You to come and transform our culture  and our society. We confess that we have not prayed enough for our cities, for our societies, for our culture. But this morning, we invite You to empower us so that we could be used by You as agents to transform our culture. May You be lifted up. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 23-24

REPOST  Today’s AMI Devotional, first posted on November 3, 2017, is provided by Emerson Lin. Emerson, who serves in E. Asia as a missionary, is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.).  

Devotional Though for This Morning

“A Friend in High Places”

Genesis 18:1-7

The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. 3 He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord,[a] do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.” “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” 6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.” 7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.

If someone were to ask you to name your three closest friends, would it be difficult to list off, or easy? Regardless of whether we are introverts or extroverts, friendships are one of the most important things in our lives. Good friends celebrate the joyful times and walk with us through the tough times. So, in order for people to become friends, they need to genuinely enjoy spending time with one another.

In this passage, Abraham receives a visit from the Lord and two angels. He humbly requests them to stay and rest before they continue their journey. This next part of the story is a little comical: Abraham requests the finest flour for the bread and slaughters the choice calf—what was supposedly a humble meal turns into an extravagant meal that most likely took hours to prepare!  

While it is debatable when Abraham knew that the visitors were the Lord and His angels, his eagerness to host them cannot be overlooked. The God who called him out of Ur finally comes in a tangible way to spend time with Abraham, His friend.  In fact, James 2:23 says, “And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend.”

As we read this passage, some of us covet Abraham’s experience. We long for that same tangible experience and intimacy with the Lord. However, I would like to encourage you that we have a greater friendship with the Lord than Abraham could have ever had—we have the Holy Spirit living in us! Wherever we go, the Spirit of God is there to encourage, teach, and comfort us. John 14:16 says, “¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.”

Knowing that we can have such an intimate relationship with the Lord, like Abraham, are you eager to host the Spirit of God in your life? Does your life reflect that excitement? Take some time to reflect on your actions and attitude. God calls us His friends. Let’s strive to become believers who genuinely enjoy spending time with the Lord! 

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 22

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Lunch Break Study

Read John 15:9-17: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.”

Questions to consider

1. How do we remain in Jesus’ love? (v. 10)
2. In this passage, what does Jesus say is the greatest act of love? (v. 13)
3. What is the difference between a friend and a servant? (v. 15)

Notes

1. We remain in Jesus’ love by obeying His commandments. In yesterday’s devotion, we learned that we love God by actively obeying the commands He has given us.
2. The greatest act of love is when one person is willing to lay down his life for his friend. We learn, later, that Jesus does this for us on the cross.
3. A servant simply does the master’s bidding, while a friend knows his friend’s desires.   

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Evening Reflection

“The time you spend alone with God will transform your character and increase your devotion. Then your integrity and godly behavior in an unbelieving world will make others long to know the Lord.”

– Charles Stanley

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on August 15, 2017, is provided by Joanna Tzen, a friend of AMI, who attended and served at Grace Covenant Church (UC) for a long time. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“‘Without Holiness, No One will See the Lord’ in Us”

Genesis 39:2 

The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. 3 Potiphar noticed this and realized that the Lord was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. 

In continuing the story of Joseph, we see that after his brothers sell him into slavery, Potiphar’s household purchases him from the slavers. It must have been a moment of great despair for Joseph.  Nevertheless, before the Lord began to bestow favor and success upon him in Potiphar’s home, there is little doubt that Joseph himself sought the Lord in his despair.  Which came first?  David, when facing a similar situation of hopelessness, said, “I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all fears” (Ps. 34:4).  David didn’t solve his problems with his own strength; neither did Joseph, whose help came from the Lord (Ps. 121:2).  Subsequently, his faith became evident to Potiphar who saw that Joseph was not like other slaves; that is to say, Joseph’s faith was expressed not only through his words but also by his work ethic and character-driven conduct.  So impressed was Potiphar that he “left in Joseph’s care everything he had” (Gn. 39:6).  

What can we learn from this?  First, our faithfulness to the Lord is not generated by ourselves, for Joseph was faithful because he understood that God was being faithful to him.  Second, hardship is necessary for our transformation, for adversity forced Joseph to hunger after God’s presence. As he clung to God and learned about His faithfulness, Joseph underwent a total transformation in character. (Remember, there was a reason his brothers couldn’t stand Joseph, who freely boasted how one day he would rule over them.)  Third, as Joseph realized His God was trustworthy and faithful to his promises, the Lord freed Joseph from his rightful bitterness, which in turn led him to remain faithful in His service under whatever circumstances: as a slave, a prisoner, and finally as a powerful ruler of Egypt.  Understanding and resting in God’s promises frees us and allows us to be faithful in any present circumstance.

What difficult circumstances do you find yourself in today? Have you allowed the promises of God to penetrate your heart? Let us go to throne today and ask that He remind us of those promises.

Prayer: Father God, forgive me when I allow my heart to wander and make circumstances bigger than you. Remind me of Your promises and that if You have given us Your Son, what else would You not give us. Thank You that Jesus, who was tempted yet remained sinless, understands my present circumstance. Lord, help me to trust and rest in Your promises so that I may be faithful through my own struggles. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 21

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Lunch Break Study

Read Genesis 15:2: But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. 3 You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.”4 Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.” 5 Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!” 6 And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.

Questions to Consider

1. What was the Lord’s promise to Abraham?

2. What is said about Abraham in verse 6?

3. When we feel like our circumstances overwhelm God’s promises, what can learn from this passage?

Notes

1. God promised to give Abraham an heir that would be his own son, through whom He promised many descendants.

2. Abraham is called righteous because of his faith.

3. It is about 10 years since the last time God spoke to Abraham about his promises, so Abraham’s doubt is understandable. However, Abraham chooses to turn to God in this time and God renews his hope with the reiterated promise. Abraham is credited with righteousness because of his faith, not his deeds. Let’s emulate Abraham in this way to turn to God when we are tempted to doubt, and be renewed in His promises.

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Evening Reflection

Lord, I confess that I do not always feel like being faithful when my circumstances are not what I expected. There are moments where I am tempted to doubt your promises and even your goodness. Help me to see beyond circumstance and renew my faith in You.

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was first posted on September 19, 2017.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Our Patient God”

Genesis 5:1-2

When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth. 4 Then the days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he had other sons and daughters. 5 So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years, and he died

Seth is described as a son in the likeness of Adam – repetition of the language of humanity’s creation in the likeness of God. The interesting thing is that none of Adam’s other children (Cain and Abel ) are so described.  Only Seth.  Commentators suggest that the writer of Genesis is speaking in spiritual terms, and Seth was made in the “spiritual” likeness of Adam –that the birth of Seth marks a new spiritual linage in the human genealogy.    

One thing that’s for sure is the clear contrast between the line of Cain (poor Abel didn’t make it very far) and the line of Seth. Cain’s line flows directly out of humanity’s sin against God. We see this in his birth which is described as something humanity themselves did (“I have created man just as the Lord did” [Gen. 4:1]). But after 130 years, Seth is born, and it seems that the years have indeed wrought wisdom because humanity (finally) again acknowledges God (“God has given me another child…” [Gen. 4:25]; “At this time people began to worship the Lord” [Gen. 4:26]).

The Bible is true when it says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). So wonderful, in fact, that it took the first of us 130 years to experience our limitations in such a way that we finally turned again to our Maker. We all do this: we miss God in the midst of God’s creation. Even our gifts, talents, treasures are an expression of just how good a Creator God is. Yet, it’s those very things that often delay our acknowledgement and dependence upon God. We worship our stuff and ourselves in lieu of our Giver and our Maker.  

But God is patient. Even after 130 years, God had not given up. God patiently waited for humanity to turn and once they did, in the likeness of the Human Creation as God intended it (as a gift from Him), Seth was born. Praise be to our patient God, who wills that no one perish, but all come to repentance!  

Prayer: Thank You God for Your patience with me. So often I live out of my brokenness instead of choosing to live out of the new life You’ve made available to me in Jesus Christ. Thank You for patiently bearing with me and with this broken world long enough for You to redeem it and make it new. Help me acknowledge You today, so that I may be a contributor to Your redemptive work in the world and not an agent of the world’s destruction.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 20

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Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Peter 3:3-9: Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

Questions to Consider

1. According to this passage, why does it seem that the Lord is slow to fulfill His promises? In what areas of your life (or of human history) do you find yourself evaluating God as “slow about His promise”? How does this passage encourage you? 
2. How does this passage describe the mockers? What do they say, what do they do, and why do they say and do those things? In what ways do you find yourself behaving like these mockers in your life? 
3. What are some promises of God in which you need to renew your hope today? Write them down and spend sometime declaring them in your heart.

Notes

1. It seems to us that the Lord is slow because He is patient. God is not wishing that anyonewould perish, but wants all people to come to repentance. Because of this, God is patient and thus can seem slow, uncaring, powerless, and absent when we lack understanding. 
2. The mockers follow after their own lusts because they don’t see God doing what was promised. They have forgotten who God really is – the One who created the world with a word, cleansed it through the flood, and now preserves it. While it’s easy to condemn the mockers, we all have a little mocker in us. When things don’t go our way or when we don’t understand, we may find ourselves doubting God’s promises and following our own passions and desires, instead of patiently choosing to wait on God in faithful obedience.  
3. Spend some time in personal reflection. 

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Evening Reflection

One of my favorite Christian bands is a South African girl group called “The Arrows.” In their song Ode to a Patient God, they beautifully describe God’s patience with humanity: 

You sit and watch the cars and planes hurry by. You wonder when they’ll arrive. Sometimes you try to catch their eye. They turn to hide, and You turn to sigh. And don’t You go insane? All 6, 000 years of us treating you this way? All this time, well, does it make you tired? I can’t believe You waited for me like it was worth Your while. We see the church and the lost, [but] You see Your bride and Your sons. And full of hope, You carry on making us one; just on and on. And patiently You wait never wanting us to die If we could still be saved. Oh, is it so? Having all control and then controlling nothing at all of what You’re hoping for? I Surround my gate tonight searching to and fro to find Someone who will fight. Oh, I wonder what You’ll see. I can’t believe You waited for me… And so If there’s anything you need, anything at all, you just call I made a promise I’ll keep So ’till we meet…

Spend some time this evening reflecting on the patience of God. In what areas of your life have you experienced God’s patience? Imagine what your life would be like if God was as impatient as we often are. Offer God thanks for His patience toward you and those around you and declare anew your trust in God in your areas of waiting. 

Consider listening to The Arrows “Ode to a Patient God” during your time of reflection. https://open.spotify.com/track/2R544acpd5G0ZKt6NGGXUG

REPOST  Today’s AMI Devotional, first posted on November 1, 2017, is provided by Emerson Lin. Emerson, who serves in E. Asia as a missionary, is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.).  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Mission Impossible”

Genesis 17:17-21

Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!” 19 Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.” 22 When he had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.

When I was in 5^th grade, I attended a Chinese Vineyard Conference in Los Angeles that opened my eyes to the reality of God’s power. During the last session, the speaker preached on Mark 11:23: “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.” I was so inspired by this message that when I went home, I faced the Santa Cruz Mountains and screamed, “Move, in Jesus name!” Unfortunately, nothing happened.

Whenever I tell this story, many people chuckle to themselves at the absurdity of a child telling mountains to move. In this passage, Abraham has a similar reaction when God promises a child for him and Sarah in their old age. Can you imagine a 100-year old and a 90-year old having a child together? It defies all logic and science! Even Abraham doubts and asks the Lord to make Ishmael his heir. Yet, God is determined to give Abraham a son, and he is to be called Isaac.

Our God specializes in the impossible and the supernatural. He operates within as well as outside of our understanding. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” 

Because this world is dominated by science and logic, we forget that our God can operate outside of the natural. Unfortunately, even as believers, we slowly begin to lose that child-like wonder, and we stop trusting in Him. 

Of course, we are not to disregard reason. As believers, we need to use sound reason to properly study God’s word and defend our faith. Yet, we need to acknowledge that our God can operate outside of our natural thoughts. Let’s continue to pursue both, so that we can become more faithful and effective Christians!

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for being a God that specializes in the impossible. It brings me tremendous comfort that I can trust You in all things, no matter how small or big. Lord, please restore my child-like wonder in You again. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 19

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Lunch Break Study

Read Mark 9:14-29: When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. 16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. 17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” 19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” 20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

Questions to consider

1. In this passage, why couldn’t the evil spirit be driven out by the disciples?
2. There seems to be a paradox in verse 24. What do you think the man meant by, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief”?

Notes

1. The disciples could not cast out the boy’s evil spirit because the people lacked belief. In this context, we learn that faith is a catalyst that allows us to witness miracles in our lives.
2. The paradox is a sign of humility before Jesus. Although he wants to believe, he knows that there are parts of him that do not believe. Only when the man is honest with himself, does Jesus heal his son. 

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Evening Reflection

In light of today’s passage, what are some things that hinder you from believing in God’s power in your life? As you meditate on these obstacles, ask the Lord to help you with your unbelief! 

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on September 12, 2017, is provided by Pastor Jason Sato who, along with his wife Jessica and three young children, serves in Japan as an AMI missionary. Jason, a graduate of UC San Diego (BS) and Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div.), is currently planting a church in Tokyo. Please pray for this work.

Devotional Thought for This Morning 

“Living in a Fog”

Genesis 3:6 (ESV)

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 

 During college, I was in a very unhealthy relationship.  I knew that God did not approve of it, but I was convinced that He didn’t know what He was talking about—I knew what I needed to be happy and He did not.  The relationship ended up being spiritually and emotionally damaging to us both.  As it turned out, God was right.

In the Garden of Eden, there was a tree in the midst of the garden.  God said that eating of the fruit of that tree would lead to death, but to the woman, it did not look like death; it looked like a tree good for food, a delight to the eyes, and something to be desired to make one wise.  

The power of sin is greater than we think.  Sin not only fuels our desire for evil, it clouds our thoughts so that evil looks like good.  We live in a fog in which we cannot see; worse still, we don’t know that we cannot see.  God saw death and the woman saw something delightful and desirable.  And as is always true, God was right.

Brothers and sisters, today you and I will disagree with God about many things in our lives.  Our thoughts appear to be objective and reasonable, but God always knows what He’s talking about.  He aims to lead us away from death and destruction into a life of abundance and joy.  

Oftentimes, His truth will make no sense to us.  How can dying to ourselves lead to life?  How can denying ourselves be freedom?  How can all things work out for our good?  The honest answer to these questions is that we do not know how, but God is a good Father and He is more than able to figure it out.  May we ask for eyes to see the truth clearly, and when we cannot, may we reject our perception and stand on the solid rock of the Word of God.

Prayer: Father, I thank You that You are true and Your Word is truth.  My heart and even my mind lead me astray so often.  Give me grace to believe You over all others, even myself. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 18

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Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Samuel 13:8-12 (ESV): He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. [9] So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. [10] As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. [11] Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, [12] I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the LORD.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” 

Question to Consider

1. Saul knew he was not supposed to present the offerings to God.  So why did he do it?
2. What is Saul blind to?
3. What is blinding Saul’s eyes?

Notes

1. His army began to scatter and he didn’t want to go to war without having offered the offerings.  Saul makes excuses and explains that he had no choice but to disobey God in order to (ironically) seek God’s favor.
2. Saul is blind to his sin and his responsibility for his sin.  Saul is blind to God’s omnipotence and sovereignty.
3. Saul’s ambition, fear of man, and pride blind his eyes.

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Evening Reflection

Reflect upon your day.  What things appeared to be life but according to God are death?  For the moments you fell to temptation, ask for forgiveness.  Ask Jesus for more of His grace that washes away your sin and gives you spiritual eyes to see the truth. 

REPOSTToday’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on May 28, 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.). 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“If You Believe the Earth is Flat, Then It is!”

Revelation 2:18-28 (ESV)

“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works,23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule[c] them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

One of the highest virtues of society these days is tolerance. A popular phrase “You do you” perpetuates this line of thinking: basically, this phrase means that you should do whatever you want to do, think however you want to think, and be whoever you want to be without fear of judgment. While I get the sentiment of this phrase, I also feel that it has spiraled out of control, particularly in our social landscape where tolerance is highly prized. Several months ago, a famous NBA player Kyrie Irving came out to say that he believed the earth was flat—what a shocking statement! The more shocking fact was that many came to his defense and said that if he believed it were true, then no one should be able to discredit his beliefs. Absolute truth has been discarded as something in the past, and relativism seems to be the popular belief that society holds to now.

Even within the church, there has been shifting views, where absolute truth that has always been held in the past have started to be questioned and discarded. Because tolerance has been celebrated as an important pillar of our society, oftentimes it can be mistakenly equated to love: love is tolerance, tolerance is love. Today’s passage shows us that the church in Thyatira struggled with this as well. Jesus commends this church for being full of love, faith, service and patient endurance. They are fulfilling their purpose as a church that extends love. However, when we look at the indictment against this church, we realize that they have been tolerating sin and wrong teaching; this teaching spread quickly, leading many astray. And this is all for the sake of love—and Jesus is not pleased with that.

This same struggle exists within the church today. Do we need to open the door wider (to the point of potentially sacrificing sound doctrine) so that we can love more people and give them a chance to come into the kingdom of God? Do we need to sacrifice love to hold true to the sound doctrine, guarding the faith and keeping it pure? It’s interesting to see that the church in Ephesus was faithful to sound doctrine and was zealous in chasing out heretical teaching—but they struggled with love. On the other hand, the church in Thyatira was the exact opposite: it was commended for its love and hospitality, but condemned for its tolerance of wrong teaching. One thing I appreciate about the “radical middle” approach is that one doesn’t need to be sacrificed for the other. We must earnestly pursue love – loving one another and loving those who believe differently from us—but we must also earnestly pursue faithful teaching, maintaining sound doctrine and purity in the faith, not tolerating sin and causing others to stumble. It’s an incredibly difficult thing to do, and I believe this struggle won’t end any time soon. However, our Lord encourages us: “hold fast until I come.” May our churches seek to love others and reach out to a decaying world while still holding to sound doctrine! May we be people who hold love and truth near to our hearts as we seek to minister to this world! 

Prayer: Father God, at times it seems so difficult to hold to the truth of Your Word when the world seems to reject what You have spoken. Although we desire to love people so that more and more may enter into Your Kingdom, we realize how difficult it may be to speak the truth in love. Help us in our weakness. Help us to be people who pursue love while we pursue truth.  Enable us persevere to the end, even when our message goes against popular opinion. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.  

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 17