June 26, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional QT, first posted on August 17, 2017, is provided by Pastor Shan Gian who leads Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan.  Shan is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Great Staircase”

Psalm 61:1-3

Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; 2 from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, 3 for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.

I’m typically not one to enjoy touristy sites, but a few years ago I had the privilege of going with a group of people to the Great Wall of China.  It was a beautiful sight; we not only got to see the wall up close and personal, but we got to walk on the surface itself and climb up to the highest point.

It was a great experience, but what we visited that day was not a great wall, but rather (as Pastor Young puts it) “The Great Staircase”. To reach the highest point, we must have climbed something to the tune of 40 flights of stairs.  It was physically exhausting.

But what made this trip up the Great Stairs of China especially painful was that as we went up the stairs, we could see what we thought was the summit of the Wall. So even though we were getting tired, in our minds, we kept thinking, “At least we just have to get to that part.”  But when we got to “the top”, we discovered the stairs didn’t end there; there was another long stretch of stairs to go until we reached the actual summit.  So again, we’d push ourselves to get the “real” summit, but when we got there, that wasn’t it!  Yet another long stretch to go.  We repeated this at least 5 times over.  Get to the top, it’s not the top.  Keep going.  Get to the top, bamboozled again.  Keep going.  We were so close to giving up not just because we were physically tired but because our spirits were constantly being crushed.


When David says in Psalm 61, “Lead to the rock that is higher than I,” I think he might have understood my Great Wall experience.  In his life and in our lives, we seek to ascend different summits: the summit of education, the summit of career, the summit of material wealth, the summit of relationships, etc.  But every time we reach one of these summits, we discover that it’s not the top, and then we have to keep going to the next summit.  This happens over and over again because any summit we can reach is never high enough, and the results are just like my Great Wall experience: tiring and spirit-crushing.

I think David asks God to lead him to a rock that was higher than himself, because he had experienced the same letdown of reaching his own summits and heights on his own power.  David knew that only God could take him to a place where he would be secure. He knew that only God could lead him to the ultimate summit.  

As we reflect on these words from David, consider what summits we’ve been trying to reach in our own lives. Let us lay down those pursuits that tire us and crush our spirits and ask God to lead us to the rock that is higher than us.

Prayer: Jesus, I pray that you will lead me to places where only you can take me.  I lay down my own pursuits and ambitions and recognize that I will only find joy and contentment with you.  Lead me to you, Lord. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 3

Lunch Break Study

Read Mark 10:17-22: And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Questions to Consider

  1. What summits had this man already ascended?  
  2. Why does Jesus tell him to sell all that he had and give to the poor?
  3. How do we see the grace of Jesus in this passage?  How can we experience that grace in our own failures?  

Notes

  1. This “rich young ruler” should commended in a few ways.  He (at least in his own view) lived a very moral life in keeping all of these commandments.  Also, in going to Jesus, he was seeking eternal life.  Finally, in the eyes of the world at least, he was commendable in that he had great wealth.
  2. Jesus’ concern for this man was not that he lacked compassion for the poor, but rather it was his attachment to his possessions.  This young man had achieved great things in many respects, but in reaching his summit of wealth, he was not willing to let it go in order to reach higher heights and the far greater riches of the treasures in heaven.   
  3. It says in verse 21 that Jesus looked at this young man and loved him.  As we study this passage, we notice that this young man is a classic example of someone we all might dislike because he was young, proud and rich.  But Jesus, in spite of knowing all of this young man’s flaws and sins, looks at him with eyes of love and grace.  We are not very different from this rich man, and like him we are often unwilling to lay down our pride or achievements or riches; but Jesus looks at us with the same eyes of love and grace.  In our own failures, all we need to do is to seek the love and grace that Jesus reserves for us.

Evening Reflection

Do you feel worn out and tired by life?  Do you feel like you have striven to succeed but getting nowhere?  Perhaps, you’ve been reaching for heights that pale in comparison to the rock that God wants to lead you to.  Tonight, surrender your life and heart to God, and ask for Him to lead you. 

June 25, Tuesday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on July 11, 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

“Fighting Spiritual Amnesia”

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

In 2014, Psychology Today came out with an article titled “7 Ways Facebook is bad for our mental health,” arguing that the website can make people feel like their lives aren’t as exciting as everyone else’s or even leading us to envy our friends’ successes. While all of these are true, one thing I believe Facebook does well is that it helps us to remember things. Many of us, if not all, rely on Facebook to remember our friends’ birthdays and it helps us remember our past by saving old photos. When used wisely, it can be a very useful tool.

In this passage, Paul is correcting the Corinthian church because they have abused the Lord’s table. Some believers eat without waiting for other members to arrive, preventing late members from partaking in the meal. In addition, others get drunk from the wine at the table. To combat this, Paul then recounts the narrative of the Last Supper.

Many of us have read or heard this passage hundreds of times when our pastors prepare the sacraments. Clearly, the Scriptures tell us that the sacraments help us to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus. However, what stuck out to me was the word “whenever” in verses 25 and 26. Why is this word so important?

The word holds importance not because Jesus expects us to perform His rituals on a constant basis, but He knows that we are prone to forgetting His faithfulness. When we do, we may end up like the Israelites—desiring idols and wickedness. Of course, the grace of Jesus always welcomes us back! Pastor Sam Storms of Bridgeway Church says, “Spiritual amnesia leads to apathy, which can invariably lead to apostasy”; while remembrance is not the only method of preserving our faith, it is an important one. Scripture is filled with accounts of God calling His people, both Israelites and Christians, to fight spiritual amnesia by remembering His faithfulness in our lives. 

What are some spiritual markers in your life that help you remember the Lord’s faithfulness? How often do you think about them? When we forget about the Lord’s faithfulness, we must use such spiritual markers to remind us of Him. Take some time to reflect on what the Lord has done in your life. As you think, thank God for each moment which you recall.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Your constant reminder to remember Your faithfulness. You know that we are prone to forget your word, but You have given us spiritual markers and sacraments to remember Your faithfulness. Thank You for your amazing grace!

Bible Reading for Today: John 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 77:7-12: “Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? 8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? 9 Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” 10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. 11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. 12 I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

Questions to Consider

  1. What emotion is the Psalmist going through? (v.7-9)
  2. How does the Psalmist fight this emotion? (v. 10-12)
  3. Why do you think the Psalmist uses the future tense in verse 10-12?

Notes

  1. The psalmist’s prayers are filled with sorrow and depression. He feels that God has completely abandoned him.
  2. The important phrase to notice is in verse 10: “Then I thought.” The psalmist realizes that remembering the Lord is the key to getting himself out of apathy.
  3. The psalmist uses the future tense to show that he is still in sorrow and depression. The future tense thus shows us that he is plotting out a strategy in his mind of how to conquer his distress.

Evening Reflection

In light of today’s sharing on remembrance, were there any events today that you can record as a spiritual marker? If not, take some time to revisit the spiritual markers you jotted down this morning. 

June 24, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on July 27, 2017, is provided by Pastor Min Soo Choi.  Min Soo, a graduate of University of Illinois and Reformed Theological Seminary (M.Div.), has been serving as the college pastor at Journey Church of Atlanta since 2017. He and his wife Ah Rim have two beautiful daughters.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Winning is . . . not everything!”

2 Samuel 19:18-23

And they crossed the ford to bring over the king’s household and to do his pleasure. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was about to cross the Jordan,19 and said to the king, “Let not my lord hold me guilty or remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. Do not let the king take it to heart. 20 For your servant knows that I have sinned. Therefore, behold, I have come this day, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.” 21 Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?” 22 But David said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be as an adversary to me? Shall anyone be put to death in Israel this day? For do I not know that I am this day king over Israel?” 23 And the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king gave him his oath.

Recently, our church hosted a friendly yet competitive kickball tournament to help raise funds for our short-term missionaries.  During the game, someone in the crowd started booing to one of the teams on the field! So, when I asked her why she was booing, she responded, “Because my team was losing.” In truth, I wanted to know why she thought it was necessary to demoralize a group of college students at missions’ fundraiser, but her answer reminded me of how there is an innate part of us that always wants to be on the winning side.

In this story of 2 Samuel 19:18-23, we see how Shimei was on the opposing side of King David. Thinking that he was on the right side, this lowly servant originally cursed and mocked David, who was God’s true anointed king. Shimei ends up the loser, however, and it’s at this point that he goes down on his knees and begs for mercy upon his life. He had wrongfully mocked the rightful king and deserved death and condemnation. However, David does something that was radically different from the time: he shows mercy upon this lowly servant and allows him to live. 

When I think about Shimei’s shameful actions, I realize that I am not much different from him. Before I had understood the meaning of the gospel, I was on the opposing side of God. I had lived a life of sin, living for my own personal glory and satisfaction. I was on the side that mocked God’s one and only Son and had even cursed Him, before He was hung on the cross. As a lowly servant, I dared to curse God’s true anointed King. I was on the wrong side, yet God had spared me. Even though I deserved death and condemnation, I received mercy through what Jesus had done on the cross. It’s from this reception of grace that I can continually go down on my knees and repent for all the wrongful deeds that I had committed before God.    

In light of the forgiveness that we have already received, let us continue to act out of mercy and love. Some of us may have even experienced pain from those that mocked us, cursed us, and betrayed our trust. But when we experience the mercy of a righteous King, who forgives us for all of our wrongful actions, we are empowered to show grace to those around us. Let us act in this grace.    

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your mercies, for they are new every day. I pray that I would never forget the unending kindness and grace that You have constantly showered upon my life. May I always seek You with a heart of repentance, knowing that You are the restorer of all things. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 1

Lunch Break Study

Read Mathew 5:21-26: You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

Questions to Consider

  1. What is the urgency of this passage?
  2. Are you aware of people in your life that may hold something against you?  What should we do if no one comes to our minds?
  3. How has God brought healing upon your broken relationships? 

Note

1. The text urges us to reconcile before leaving our gifts at the altar. It says that if a brother has something against you, you ought to go to them first and reconcile.  The urgency is to seek forgiveness from those whom we have offended, and to forgive those who have offended us.

2. If there is no one that comes to mind, pray that God would reveal certain sins in your life that may have hurt certain people. Pray for restoration and healing upon such relationships.

3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

We began the day talking about God’s forgiveness and acting out in grace and love. Have you reflected on God’s mercy upon your life? If not, let us repent and spend some time in prayer. May God strengthen and encourage us for a better day tomorrow. 

June 23, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was first posted on July 2, 2017.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The Battle is Fierce, But The Victory Is Sure!”

Revelation 13:11-18

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life. 15 And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 17 and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.

A saying I heard often in my church culture growing up was, “Sometimes you just have to go through!”—meaning, there are times when you have to walk through a tough situation because there is no way around it. You have to go to through the wilderness to get to the Promised Land. It isn’t fun, but it’s a necessary part of the journey. But whenever this saying was offered, there was always an understanding behind it that God is still in control and is working things for good and for His ultimate end. 

In today’s passage, we see a scary scene. John gives us a look into the Beast’s (Satan) efforts to thwart the work of the Lord and pursue his own ends (in opposition to the Kingdom of God). It isn’t fun, but it is part of what will come, even as God is working things out for His good purposes. One thing John is told (and that we are told by extension) is that wisdom will be required for God’s people to discern what’s going on in the midst of the Enemy’s schemes (v. 18). That’s an important reminder for us today! 

There have been many times throughout the history of God’s work in this world where God’s people had to walk through a dark and confusing time in order to get to the good ends God had in store. All looks lost in the middle, but the end always brings a joy and glory far beyond what could have been imagined. The most notable of these moments, of course, is the cross. Friday night seemed like all was lost (the Enemy himself was even rejoicing), but we know the end of the story. It was just something we had to go through in the war to walk into the victory. 

S.M. Lockridge’s Easter sermon is famous for his portrayal of this truth as he recounts the darkness of Friday (the crucifixion) with the hope of Sunday (the resurrection) in view. May this brief excerpt remind us that even when the Enemy is raging war, we know that our victory is sure! 

It’s Friday –

He’s hanging on the cross feeling forsaken by his Father. 

Left alone and dying. 

Can nobody save him? 

Ohhhh!

It’s Friday but Sunday’s comin’. 

It’s Friday – 

Hope is lost. 

Death has won. 

Sin has conquered and Satan’s just a laughing’

It’s Friday – 

Jesus is buried. 

A soldier stands guard and a rock is rolled in its place. 

But it’s Friday. It is only Friday. 

[AND WE KNOW] Sunday is a comin’!

Prayer: Almighty God, no matter how fierce the battle, help me to remember my victory in You. Help me to stand firm in every battle that comes my way today. Give me wisdom to discern beyond my own understanding. To the glory of Your name. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Habakkuk 3

June 22, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Christine Li, was first posted on August 5, 2017. Christine, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Pressing On in Discipline”

Hebrews 12:10b-11 

“God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. “

 Recently my family and I took a vacation to Europe. One of our sights was an iconic basilica in Budapest, and my brother and I decided we would go to its rooftop and see the city view. We thought it would be a fun idea to take the stairs (over 300) because it would surely give us a greater sense of satisfaction when we made our way to the top. We started the ascent through a cramped, windowless stairwell, making sure not to be too slow for the sake of the people coming behind us.

As you can imagine, there were many times where we wondered (at least I did), if we had made the right choice, because the stairs became increasingly tiring and uncomfortable. When we were at the top, however, the struggle no longer mattered. The view was spectacular! All the pain of that stone Stairmaster was pushed out of our minds.

In our fast-paced society, discipline can be such a dirty word. It is slow, boring, and often painful. When you’re stuck in the middle of it, there’s no way to get a glimpse of whether the satisfaction at the end is entirely worth it. The thought of quitting may be such a satisfying temptation as well.

However, the author of Hebrews reminds us that, out of love, God desires for us to be disciplined and refined so that we may reap a harvest in the future. God is aware that much of this process may be neither fun nor easy, but He promises that the final result – a holy life aligned with Him – will be completely worth it.

God has perfect intentions and love for us. He wants to give us character that is like His so that we may worship and enjoy Him to the fullest. Let’s not avoid the discipline that God sets in our lives. In all faith, we know that our good Father is leading us towards joy. Today let’s ask Him for conviction and obedience so that He can mold our character and make us more like Him. 

Prayer: Father, I confess that I am not always excited for Your refining of my life. But please make me more like You. Give me a heart that desires to be holy as You are holy; help me hang onto the promise that the harvest You envision will be more than worth this temporary hardship. Help me to come before You, readily and joyfully accepting Your perfection of all my thoughts, desires, and habits. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Habakkuk 1-2

June 21, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on July 20, 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

“Unity in Christ”

Galatians 3:26-29

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

Back in 2010, I attended a mission trip in rural China with a small team, including the head pastor of the church I was attending at that time. It was a humbling experience to meet the over 50 Chinese house church leaders who had gathered to receive training from our team. Our team consisted of a few college students (I had just graduated from college), and our lead pastor, yet there we were in rural China, teaching and equipping underground church leaders who were old enough to be my grandparents and had withstood the hardships of government persecution. Needless to say, our lead pastor did most of the teaching/preaching.

It happened on the second day. During one of the teaching sessions, we were ambushed and raided by the police. They kicked down the door of the barn-house we were meeting in, and arrested my lead pastor. They shoved him into a police car and drove off without a word. Chaos ensued and my team and I began to panic. Many of the Chinese church leaders began packing their belongings in order to flee to a safer place. We had nowhere to go. It was then that I noticed around 30 of the church leaders who remained seated. They weren’t packing or leaving. Their hands were raised in intercession for my pastor. One of the women pulled me aside and said something I’d never forget: “When you suffer, we all suffer, because we are family.” I began to tear up, because until that moment I had never experienced such beautiful unity in the body of Christ. In nearly every way I was different from these house church leaders. I was younger, I spoke a different language, I came from a different country/culture. And yet, in Christ, we were bonded. We were one!

Ultimately, my pastor ended up being released from prison after just one day. However much we actually taught the Chinese church leaders, I will never forget the love they showed our team. They risked their own safety for the sake of remaining with us and interceding for us during a time of trial and persecution. That is the kind of unity that Paul wished upon the Galatian churches when he said, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

This morning, spend some time praying for your church, that in Christ, there would be unity that is able to overcome any hardship.

Prayer: Father, build and strengthen the unity of Your church. Protect us from becoming divided. May we embrace those who feel isolated. Thank You that the bond of Christ’s blood is stronger than any dividing force. Especially during trials and hard times, teach us to lay our lives down for one another. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Hebrews 13

Lunch Break Study

Read John 17:20-21: I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Questions to Consider

  1. This is from a passage that is known as Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer. Who is Jesus praying for here?
  2. What is Jesus praying for here?
  3. What seems to be the purpose for Jesus asking God the Father for this kind of unity?

Notes

  1. You may need to look at the immediate context in order to see this more clearly, but Jesus is actually praying for all future believers/Christians, “for those who will believe in me….” This portion of His prayer is not only for His current disciples, but also for those to come. In other words, He is praying specifically for us!
  2. Jesus prays that we would have unity. Amazingly, He refers to His own perfect unity with the Father as the example of the type of unity that He wants us to have, that “they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you.” Furthermore, Jesus prays, “that they also may be in us.” This is an incredible statement implying that Jesus intends the church to not only be united within itself, but also profoundly united with the Triune God Himself.
  3. Jesus ends this thought by saying, “So that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Unity is not merely an end in itself. The unity of the church is a vehicle for God’s will to be done, that the world would come to know and believe in Jesus.

Evening Reflection

Our nation is arguably more divided than it has ever been before. Amidst all the chaos and disunity manifesting in politics and social media, let us pray that the Church would lead the way in demonstrating a flavor of unity that is only possible by the blood of Christ.

June 20, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was first posted on June 26, 2017.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“God’s Protection of His Possession” 

Revelation 11:1-2

Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. 2 Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months. 

A couple weeks ago my pastor told a story about his youngest daughter and her new tricycle. She’s only one year old and not very tall or coordinated, so, yes, she can’t actually ride it. But she loves her trike and has, for some reason, become very territorial about it.  So much so that she won’t allow anyone to touch it or go near it, even if it’s to help her by pushing her around so she can have the experience of riding it (seeing as she is not tall enough to reach the petals yet). After hearing him talk about this, I decided to test it out one day in their back yard. I tried pushing her when she was on the tricycle (pitifully immobilized) – she made it clear that she did NOT like that one bit. I tried just standing near her while she was on the tricycle – to which she responded with a death glare that screamed, “You better back it up, sister!” It was all quite amusing to me. I was most impressed by how aware she was of the tricycle at all times – even when she was off playing with something else, whenever I got near that tricycle, she somehow knew and bobbled back over, whining and snatching it away. That tricycle is her prized possession; she loves it and is meticulous about it! 

While not quite like a territorial toddler, God is obviously meticulous about his precious possessions, namely His people. In today’s short passage, John is told to measure the Temple of God. Whether this refers to a literal Temple and those who worship God at the time of the vision’s fulfillment, or more symbolically represents the Church, the people of God and the place of their worship are measured in John’s vision as a symbol of God’s protection over, approval of, and attentiveness to them. They are His and He knows them, sees them, favors them, and will not allow one inch of them to fall from His view, even in times of hardship. That’s the kind of God we serve and the kind of care and attentiveness He gives to those He calls His own.  So, no matter what happens today, rejoice over knowing that we are highly valued by the mighty God of the universe.  

Prayer: Almighty God, in all Your power and majesty, You are still mindful of me and all Your people throughout the generations. Not because we deserve it, but because You have chosen to call us Your own. Help me to remember that this is who You are as I go throughout my day today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.  

Bible Reading for Today: Hebrews 12

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 12:4-6: “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

Questions to Consider

  1. What does it mean to fear the Lord? 
  2. Verse 7 may seem to contradict verse 5 as Jesus first commands his listeners to fear God and then tells them not to fear. How do Jesus’ words encourage us to approach the Lord?  
  3. What are some things you fear in your life right now? (e.g. people, circumstances, an uncertain future, deferred dreams, etc.) How do Jesus’ words encourage you? 


Notes

  1. Fear has three main aspects: awe, reverence, terror. While some people like to only apply one or two of those aspects of the word fear to God, all are likely in view. When we see ourselves next to God, a natural feeling is terror (we are aware of how utterly vulnerable, small, impure, etc. we are in comparison to Him). This is why people often were terrified during encounters with God or heavenly beings. We should also feel reverence (or respect) for God because He is God and we are not. He is the creator and sustainer of all things. He is worthy of our respect. Lastly, we should feel awe towards God. He is utterly lovely and beautiful. Not only this, but the things He does (especially the things He does for us) are awe-inspiring. “Who am I that You are mindful of me…” Psalm 8:4 is the psalmist’s expression of His awe at the ways of God in his own life. To fear the Lord is to recognize who He is and who we are in relationship to Him. When we have a proper view of God, we can’t help but surrender and follow Him in worship and adoration! 
  2. While we tend to fear men – who are only able to harm us in the short-term (and only as far as they are allowed by the Lord), Jesus tells us to instead fear God who is eternally powerful over all people. But just as we gasp at the terror of the thought of fearing God, He reminds us that God loves us and numbers our hairs (He meticulously cares for us). We are precious to Him. The only one to fear has oriented Himself to us in such a way that we are His precious possession! “What shall we say then? If God is for us, who can be against us!?” (Romans 8:31)
  3. Spend some time in personal reflection. 

Evening Reflection

Charles Spurgeon writes, “Believer, though all things are apparently against thee, rest assured that God has made a reservation on thy behalf; in the roll of thy griefs there is a saving clause. Somehow he will deliver thee, and somewhere he will provide for thee. The quarter from which thy rescue shall arise may be a very unexpected one, but help will assuredly come in thine extremity, and thou shalt magnify the name of the Lord. If men do not feed thee, ravens shall; and if earth yield not wheat, heaven shall drop with manna. Therefore be of good courage, and rest quietly in the Lord. God can make the sun rise in the west if he pleases, and make the source of distress the channel of delight.” 

Spend some time talking to God about any concerns you have today remembering that you are His possession and He calls you His own. Surrender any fears to the only One to be feared, knowing that He is attentive and meticulous in His care for you.

June 19, Wednesday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on August 9, 2017.

Devotional Thought For This Morning

“One Thing You Need Not Worry About in Cuba: Choosing” 

1 Tim. 6:6-9 (ESV)

But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

While touring Havana, seeing even a single ad on the wall felt out of place; there really isn’t any need for advertising since products made by the Cuban government only come in one brand and size.  Instead of choosing, you just line up and receive your monthly ration at the nearest bodega (warehouse).  A family of four, for instance, is allotted one pound of chicken for an entire month but at a very low price.  As for housing, once you build a house on land given by the government, you stay there indefinitely.  When your daughter marries, her husband then moves into her room unless they have money to build a structure next to or above her parents’ house. 

The life in America, of course, is vastly different.  A man told a story of walking into a store to buy a pair of socks, but having to choose the right one from more than 300 varieties of socks felt challenging.   Some came with elaborate illustrations such as: “Shock-Woven elastic arch brace contours to arch, providing additional support and normal articulation of the bones in the foot, while keep sock migration minimal”.  Bewildered, the man asked the saleswoman, “What if I wanted to walk, jog or play racquetball, but don’t want to get a different sock for each activity?”  The woman answered, “It’s really a matter of personal preference.”  Meaning what?  Whatever benefit you may gain by wearing the socks of your choice is psychological but certainly not performance enhancing.  For investors, does it really matter what mutual fund you buy out of more than 10,000 today, up from 3,347 in 1992 and 564 in 1980?  Even monkeys can choose stocks which perform better than professional brokers’ (look it up).

My stay in Cuba wasn’t long enough to personally discover what life is really like there, apart from what I was told—not easy, at least materially.   But life in America has its own challenges: spoiled by all the choices we have and anxiety over inconsequential choices we make, we are often caught in the snare of discontentment and living above our means, resulting in debt and its concomitant worries.  Heed, therefore, Paul’s warning: Choose a simple lifestyle in which our basic needs are adequately met; don’t chase after that which we cannot take with us after we die. Ultimately, choose to seek first the kingdom of God (Mt. 6:33).

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for allowing me to live in America, a land of plenty and limitless opportunity.  I desire Your wisdom so that I do not turn your blessing into a trap of spiritual compromise and unfaithfulness.  May I live simply so that I can do more of Your work.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Hebrews 11

Lunch Break Study

Read Joshua 24:14-5: “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Mt. 7:13-4: “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

Questions to Consider

1. If Joshua were asked what is the most consequential choice in life, what would he say?

2. While the metaphor of the narrow gate may be intended for salvation (Lk. 13:23-4), its principle may certainly be applied to Christian living.  With respect to all the choices that we have at our fingertips, what would it mean to “enter by the narrow gate” (1 Cor. 7:29-35)?

3. Putting your lifestyle and finances under a microscope, are they simple and healthy enough for you to serve God freely, or are they too materialistic and unstable to mute that question?

Notes

1. Joshua would say unequivocally that the most consequential choice in life is whether or not  to serve God wholeheartedly.  And it doesn’t matter whether one lives in Cuba or America.  It  may even be harder in America because there are so many distractions. 

2. The apostle Paul, under the Inspiration, makes an interesting comment in 1 Cor. 7:30-1: “Those who buy something, [live] as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them.”  To enter by the narrow gate means saying no to materialism and consumerism, so that we can “be devoted to the Lord”.

3. If the way your life is arranged isn’t conducive to serving the Lord, start making small changes.  Don’t buy things you don’t need on credit.  Reduce the number of vacations you take yearly.  Use the money and time you save to serve the Lord: meaningful mission trips, helping the poor, buying evangelistic tracts to aid your personal evangelism, etc. 

Evening Reflection

This morning we talked about the difference between having no choice and having too many.  If you have read thus far, I would say you have made a wise choice.  What did you have to do to get here? Did you get rid of all distraction or obligation first, such as work or study?  Many have not yet gotten here because they are still at it.  Ask the Lord to strengthen your desire and ability to wisely use God-given freewill so that you always choose that which is edifying and constructive to the glory of God.   Remember Paul’s warning: “‘Everything is permissible’—but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible’—but not everything is constructive” (1 Cor. 10:23).

June 18, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Christine Li, was first posted on August 1, 2017. Christine, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Displaying Your Scars”

John 20:24-29 

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

 I had a co-worker who had some very expensive travel luggage. I was marveling not only at how expensive it was but also how beaten up he had allowed it to get—it was scuffed over, with bumper stickers messily taped around. He assured me that that the whole mess was deliberate—you had to show off that you’d done quite a bit of traveling. His luggage, therefore, publicly bore the battle scars of wear and tear.

Isn’t it interesting that Jesus, who had already miraculously risen from the dead, chose not to make His physical body perfect? Instead, God kept these wounds on display. For Thomas, He readily showed His scars so that he would put his faith in God. 

How often do we display the scratch marks on our lives to tell a story? If we know our testimony of sharing the work God has done in our lives, what keeps us from sharing it with others? Sometimes, it may be that we are ashamed of what our stories may sound like to others, or we might be uncomfortable with what details will be revealed. Let’s remind ourselves of the better focal point—all our details demonstrate that Jesus has redeemed and restored us all. 

Our Lord and Savior publicly bears the marks of His love for us, and He can give us strength to display the testimony of His love in our lives. Today, let’s remind ourselves of the good story that God has written in our lives, and let’s look for an opportunity to share it with someone. We never know the outcome when we share, but we can be sure that God’s love is revealed when we display the depths of which He has healed us.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your healing in our lives! Make our lives full of witnessing Your goodness through every trial and hardship. Help us not to be ashamed or uncertain of the great power You have displayed in our circumstances. Teach us how to live our lives without fear of judgment so that we may freely share the testimony You have given us. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Hebrews 10

Lunch Break Study

Read Genesis 32:23-32: After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. 28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” 29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” 31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.

Questions to Consider

  1. In what kind of position do we find Jacob before he encounters God? 
  2. Contrast God’s comment in v. 28 with Jacob’s recounting in v. 30. What does the difference tell us about Jacob’s understanding of God?
  3. What aspects of Jacob’s wrestling with God can we apply to our lives?

Notes

  1. Jacob is completely alone. He has separated himself from his family and also from his possessions. By the same token, there is also nothing preoccupying his attention.
  2. God pronounces Jacob victorious, but Jacob remembers the struggle as an act of mercy, for he did not die. While it is incredible that Jacob could have ’won’ the struggle, he has proper reverence and fear of God to know that it was a very bold and audacious encounter.
  3. Firstly, Jacob was unrelenting. He clung onto God tenaciously and relentlessly. Secondly, Jacob came away from encountering God with an enlargened sense of His mercy and power – this should be our byproduct when we spend meaningful time with God. Lastly, Jacob and his descendants commemorate the limp tendon, keeping it as a reminder of his transformative encounter with God. 

Evening Reflection

Was there an opportunity for you today to display God or tell someone about how He has changed your life? Let’s reflect on a conversation that He might be giving us opportunity to shine our light to, and let’s pray for more chances tomorrow. 

June 17, Monday 

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on July 10, 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

“Unexplainable Joy”

Acts 16:22-25 (ESV)

The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. [23] And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. [24] Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. [25] About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them…

After being attacked, arrested, beaten with rods, thrown in jail, and put into the stocks, Paul and Silas have little idea what will happen to them next.  Yet what are they doing at midnight?  Singing.

When I was a kid, I used to sing a lot.  I would sing so much that my brother would tell me to stop, because I was apparently no good at it.  As I got older, I stopped singing.  My heart grew hardened and I became more and more cynical.  When I became a Christian, one surprising change was that I wanted to sing again.  We are all different, but one way I can know how I’m doing spiritually is how often these songs of praise spontaneously rise up in my heart.


While Paul and Silas are singing, the other prisoners are listening.  If I was in prison and two guys were singing at midnight, I would probably tell them to stop.  But the other prisoners are quietly listening.  They recognize they are in the presence of something holy.  They are in awe at this incredible joy that suffering cannot destroy.

My joy is often so fleeting.  One word, one person, one unexpected circumstance can ruin my day.  But Paul and Silas have a joy that suffering and even the threat of death cannot touch.


At midnight, they are praying because the Roman government is not in control.  The jailer is not in control.  The devil is not in control.  The Risen Son of God is in control and His good and sovereign purpose will be accomplished in their lives.

At midnight, they are singing, because the world can kill the body, but it cannot separate them from the love of God, nor can it cancel out the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.


Brothers and sisters, the Risen Lord desires to put a song in your heart.  In this life, our bodies will get older, but our hearts do not have to grow old.  They do not have to become cynical or hardened for our God remains wondrous, His power remains unstoppable, His promises remain true.

Prayer: Father, I desire the joy of the Lord.  Put a song in my heart that no one can extinguish.  Open my eyes to see Your Greatness so that my fears and my pride may bow before my King. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Hebrews 9

Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 2:5-11: Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. [9] Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, [10] so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

Question to Consider

  1. Many scholars believe that this passage in Philippians was a hymn in the early church.  How do verses 6-8 present a God that is unlike any other?
  2. How do verses 9-10 present a God that is unlike any other?
  3. The Philippian church was persecuted and struggling.  How could this hymn encourage the church in this time?

Notes

  1. Only Jesus takes the form of a servant, becoming a man.  Only Jesus humbles Himself in obedience to the point of a humiliating death.  No other God demonstrates such sacrificial love.
  2. Only Jesus has been given the name that is above all names.  The nations and peoples will bow before and confess the Lord Jesus.
  3. In the midst of their struggles, Jesus is their empathetic High Priest who will give them grace.  His love for them is proven and His authority is complete so the Philippians can know that God can and will work all things for their good.

Evening Reflection

Reflect on your day.  What problems or circumstances arose that threatened to steal your joy?  List at least three promises of God that remain true despite the challenges you faced today.  Take a moment to sing “God is so good” or another song of praise to the Lord.