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.

June 16, Sunday 

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Charles Choe who leads Tapestry Church in Los Angeles, was first posted on May 7, 2017.  Charles is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“I Will Do Anything for You Except When It . . .”

2 Corinthians 8:19-24

We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, 21 for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.  

A young man wrote a love letter that included these words: “I would cross the widest ocean for you; swim the deepest river for you; scale the highest mountain for you; and crawl across the burning sands of the desert –nothing is too much for you!” Then he added this postscript: “If it doesn’t rain, I’ll be over to see you on Tuesday night.” 

Sometimes this is the way we think about love. We think love is a feeling, that it is intensely emotional. But the kind of love the Bible speaks of is much more than a feeling—it’s an action; a reaction.  It’s to love when things are difficult; when we feel like doing the exact opposite out of self-preservation. It’s a love that is not determined by our feelings or by the situation.

In our passage today, Paul challenges the Corinthians to prove their love. Verse 21 reads, “for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.” It’s one thing to honor God, but how about being honorable in the sight of God? It’s one thing to say we love God, but it’s another to show it by loving others. We are reminded by the Lord’s brother James, “Whoever does not love does not know God because God is love” (1 John 4:8). We are always ready to receive God’s love, the affirmation of His love in our daily circumstances, but how readily do we avail ourselves to loving others? 

In other words, if we are genuine followers of Jesus Christ, there will be more than just talk. And giving is a concrete expression of love. If giving is to be truly out of love, it requires a degree of sacrifice. Giving sacrificially is a way to tangibly flesh out the emotions we actually feel; telling a hurting person that things will get better might be helpful, but it doesn’t cost anything for the giver. It’s when we give, to the point that it hurts, that we are much more like Jesus. It’s when we give that we demonstrate our trust in God. 

How tangible is your love? Are you faithful in your giving for the cause of Christ? When is the last time you just blessed somebody because you simply loved them? 

Prayer: God, help me to be loving in action, and not just in words. Help me to discover the joy of giving to others. May even my bank statements truly reflect my trust in You! In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Hebrews 8

June 15, Saturday

REPOST  Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend, first posted on May 13, 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.).  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Running the Race”

2 Corinthians 10:13-16

We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. 14 We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. 15 Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, 16 so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory.  

If you have ever run a race at a track meet, you know that you are confined to your lane, which means you are not allowed to step outside of the lane assigned to you. If you do, you get disqualified. These lanes are there to keep you from hindering other people from running their race as well as to keep you safe.

In this passage, Paul writes to the Corinthians, defending his ministry. He understood that God did not give him unlimited authority and could not infringe upon other missionaries’ church plants. However, the Corinthian church landed in his sphere of activity, thus he is able to rebuke, encourage, and teach them.

God has given all of us a sphere of authority within the local church, some more influential than others. Those who seek to have more authority cannot infringe upon other people’s ministries: they need to be faithful to the task that God has given them, even if it doesn’t seem “great.” On the other hand, there are those who shy away from the sphere of authority God has given them. For them, they cannot be like the man who buried the one talent in the sand and waste away that gift. Take courage and be faithful to what God has given you!

While it is good to desire more opportunities to serve, do you struggle with wanting more authority? For others, do you struggle with being too timid about serving? Regardless of which camp you fall into, verse 15 states that as your faithfulness grows, your sphere of activity will greatly expand. Faithfulness doesn’t only mean perseverance; it also means doing it according to His plan. As we are faithful to His work, His kingdom will greatly expand.  So let’s be faithful in doing His work!

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that I am part of Your great plan. However, I struggle with _________ (wanting more sphere of service or shying away from it). Above all else, I want to be faithful to Your work. Help me to see that Your plan has to be done Your way and not my own. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Hebrews 6-7

June 14, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was first posted on June 30, 2017.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Fight the Good Fight” 

Revelation 12:1-6

A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; 2 and she was with child; and she *cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. 4 And his tail *swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. 5 And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she *had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

In today’s passage, God fleshes out for John the activity of Satan against the Kingdom of God. There is a ton of symbolism in these verses and there are differing opinions about how to interpret some of the signs—particularly the woman mentioned in verse 1. The dragon represents Satan and if we take, as many do, the woman to represent Israel/the people of God (giving birth to the Messiah in verse 5), we get a glimpse of Satan’s very active efforts to destroy Christ Jesus during His earthly ministry—efforts that were obviously unsuccessful. (Not even the grave could hold Jesus down! Hallelujah!) But when unable to destroy Jesus Himself, Satan turns to the next best thing, God’s people, and seeks to destroy them. 

No matter how you slice it, the Bible teaches us that spiritual warfare is a very real thing and a regular part of the life of the believer. Reading Revelation reminds us that we are caught up in God’s great plan to save the world and eradicate evil from all of creation. It’s exciting and comforting as we read of God’s triumph over evil. But it behooves us to remember that this is all being accomplished through a war that’s going on in the spiritual realm—a war that we can’t always see or perceive but very much affects the lives of Christ-followers. As the old song goes, “We are soldiers in the army of the Lord!” 

 So what do we do? We choose to be alert (aware of the war and listening for any marching orders from our Holy Commander), take up our armor (in the Word of God and prayer), and fight (whatever the situation, by the power of the Holy Spirit). And we do so with the confidence of knowing that we have the Almighty on our side, who protects us and empowers us, and that we are fighting battles in a war that has already been won. The victory is ours! We just have to seize it! 

Prayer: Almighty God, I acknowledge today that there is a war going on, and I thank You that it is one where You’ve already made way for victory for all those who trust in You. Help me to be aware of any way You’re leading me to fight and equip me with the necessary tools for battle. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Hebrews 5

Lunch Break Study

Read Ephesians 6:10-18: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and havingput on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.

Questions to Consider

  1. According to the passage, what is the purpose of taking up the “full armor of God”? 
  2. You’ll notice in v. 11 that Paul said taking up the armor allows us to “stand firm.” What does this word choice tell us about who is really fighting our battles? What, then, is our role in fighting? 
  3. What are the tools God has given us for battle? List each one and think about what it means. Which ones, if any, might you need to focus on in your life at this time?
  4. What instructions does Paul give us in v. 18 to aid us in spiritual battle? Why does he tell us to do this? 


Notes

  1. So that we may be able to stand firmly against the schemes of the devil. Oftentimes our spiritual battles are won or lost long before they actually occur because our success is contingent upon our preparation. If we choose to rely on the Holy Spirit and take up our armor, we will be prepared when the battles come.   
  2. We are not fighting our own battles; God is fighting for and through us. But we do have to do our part by showing up and staying put. Regardless of where God leads us and no matter what circumstance we face, we have to stay put (in our obedience to God and continue our posture of surrender before Him) to experience the kind of victory Paul guarantees is available to us in Christ. 
  3. Our armor is as follows: the truth (girding our loins), righteousness (as a breastplate), the gospel of peace (and preparation for our feet), faith (as a shield to extinguish the arrows of the evil one), salvation (as a helmet), and the word of God (as the sword of the Spirit). Spend time reflecting on the areas in which you may need to fortify your armor. 
  4. Pray! Paul calls us to pray because in doing so, we will be alert and aware of what’s going on in the spiritual battle and able to persevere and petition on behalf of our fellow soldiers.  We don’t only need prayer for ourselves but we also need to support one another in prayer. 

Evening Reflection

Romans 8:37-39: “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Spend sometime praying through this passage allowing its truth to encourage your heart as you continue to fight the good fight. 

June 13, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on June 21, 2017, is provided by Pastor Joshua Kim. Joshua, a graduate of Emory University, Columbia Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Talbot Theological Seminary (Th.M.), is the Lead Pastor of Upper Room Seattle church.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Who Is In Control Amid This Mess?”

Revelation 9:1-5

Then the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him. 2 He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit. 3 Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man.

If you spend any amount of time online, you will see how drastically things have changed over the years in order to secure information online. Those highlighted scales of password strength, entering in the secret code to verify that you are human, two-step and two-factor authentication—these things have become an everyday part of our lives. But the reality is, these methods are in need of constant updating and changing because the security that they offer is only temporary. 

The book of Revelation continues with John’s account of some horrific events. A quick note about reading the book of Revelations: this is an especially difficult book to understand as there are many different ways to read it—whether these events are account of things that have happened in the past, things that will happen in the future, or a mixture of both—drawing from all these different perspectives is probably necessary for a fuller understanding of this account. For instance, many scholars debate the identity of this star from heaven which had fallen. Some say it is a fallen angel (perhaps Satan), while others argue that this descended star is the gospel message or even Christ Himself. Though this is probably not the best place for a deep theological discussion, there are definitely things to glean here.

A few keywords to note: given (v. 1, 3), told (v. 4), not permitted (v.5). Are you starting to see a pattern here? Whether this fallen star is indeed the Prince of Darkness or the Prince of Peace, there is an establishment of authority that is over them. Even the locusts that are released—creatures that throughout history have decimated entire villages and communities—are given and not permitted certain things. In other words, despite how overwhelming these things may be from our perspective, there is indeed a God who never loses control over the world. 

God is in control, brothers and sisters. This passage is talking about God’s control over the things that face people who do not repent. How much more so for people who have confessed their faith in Christ? Whatever you may be facing now or in the time to come, God never changes. He is and will always be in control. Then that means whatever you are facing, it [1] is allowed by God (though not necessarily caused by Him), [2] is restricted by God, and [3] will result for the good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8.28). This is our ultimate security—no matter what we may face in life (whether the loss of a job or our Facebook accounts being hacked), God is the ultimate source of our security. 

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You are, in Yourself, complete and perfect. You are the Creator. You are the Ruler of this world. Nothing is a surprise to You. Nothing occurs that goes unnoticed by You. And I as Your child can rest in the security. Thank You for being my security. In Jesus’ Name.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Hebrews 4

Lunch Break Study  

Read Mark 4.35-41: On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him.

Questions to Consider

  1. What does Mark tell us about the interaction between Jesus and the disciples prior to their departure for the other side?
  2. What do you think is going on in the minds of the disciples when they face the storm? What can we learn about their understanding of Jesus based upon their response?
  3. Jesus has the power to even command the winds and the storms. How is the Holy Spirit convicting your heart in terms of the winds and storms of your life?

Notes

  1. Before they set sail, note that it is Jesus’ desire and command that they leave and go to the other side. If you flip over to Mark 5, we see that He crosses the sea to heal a man tormented by a legion of demons. Jesus has a mission. He knows that there will be a storm, but Jesus also knows that He has authority over all things. 
  2. Plainly, we see that they lacked faith as Jesus says. They looked at the slumbering Jesus and thought that He did not care for them, that He did not care about what was happening. What we see is that the circumstances had become their lord in that situation, not Jesus. Jesus’ display of His authority brings upon the disciples a holy fear of who He truly is—the Lord of even the winds and the storms. 
  3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Theologically, we can sort out the relationship between God’s control, God’s allowance, and the circumstances that we face, but to understand in our hearts is another thing. As you have reflected upon God’s authority over all things today, what has God revealed to you about who He is, and secondly, that He is for you? Spend some time worshipping the One who was, who is, and is to come.  

June 12, Wednesday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on July 6, 2017, is provided by Andy Kim who is the Lead Pastor of Radiance Christian Church in San Francisco.  Andy is a graduate of Northwestern University (B.S.) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Our Fears”

Revelation 14:7

And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

Growing up, there were two things I feared: heights, and my father calling my full Korean name in that tone. That could only mean I had messed up to the point of no return. From growing up in such a success and performance driven environment, the fear I still battle with to this day is that of failure. My fear continued to grow because success was always relative to a worldly standard— one I could never achieve because there was always something more to do, someone better than me. When I think about the word fear, I can only have a negative reaction to it. So imagine my confusion when I read passages that tell us to “fear” God. How can one fear God? How can that be good?

Martin Luther, the father of the Reformation, wrestled with the biblical meaning of “fearing God” by making a distinction between two types of fear: servile fear and filial fear. He defined the first as a prisoner in a torture chamber afraid of his jailer or a slave in the hands of a malicious master; while a filial fear (from which we get the word ‘family’ in Latin) is like the fear a child has for his father. In both cases fear is the response to a source or, in these examples, a person. The first is in regard to a malicious master, and the second is to a loving father. In the second case, the child is afraid to displease his father out of love and respect, leading to a sense of reverence and awe for him. Because of this, the child wishes to please his father for the sake of respect. In fact, the word fear is always found in the context of reverence and worship as a response to God’s glory and majesty. Unlike the servile fear of failure I struggled with, we can find freedom in the fear that God commands us. It is fear based on the loving yet glorious character of God, a God who deems us worthy and pleasing through the standard that was fully met through Christ. 

Luther concludes by warning us to not take advantage of this grace and slip into a casual relationship with God. To fear the Lord is to have a sense of awe and reverence to Him while at the same having a personal intimacy through Christ. May we fear Him and give Him glory. May we find freedom from the fear of man as we seek to glorify Him. 

Prayer: Jesus, we thank You for making a way to the Father. We confess that many times we take advantage of the grace You showed us. Lord restore our sense of awe for You while deepening our intimacy with You. Help us to live this day seeking to give You glory in all that we do. May it not be out of a servile fear, but a filial fear knowing that you are indeed a good Father. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Hebrews 3

Lunch Break Study

Read Exodus 17:6: “Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Numbers 20:8-12: “Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.” 9 And Moses took the staff from before the Lord, as he commanded him. 10 Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” 11 And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. 12 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”

Questions to Consider

  1. Compare these two similar accounts of God commanding Moses to give the Israelites water.
  2. What can we glean from these two passages?
  3. How does this apply to you? Do you find yourself comparing past experiences to what God is doing today?

Notes

  1. The most notable difference is God’s response to Moses in the second account. It seems that even after Moses strikes the rock as he did in the first one, God accuses Moses of disbelief. In the first passage, God calls Moses to strike the rock to produce water; while in the second, God calls Moses to speak to the rock. Instead of speaking, Moses strikes the rock, this time doing so twice and repeating what he did in the past.
  2. God doesn’t want us to trust in our past experiences. Many times we can find ourselves comparing ourselves to our past experiences and trying to chase after them in our present. We don’t realize that when we do this, we could be robbing ourselves of what God is trying to teach us today. Experience-driven Christianity can lead to a weak faith. God doesn’t want us to chase after our past, but to chase after Him. When we seek Him, new experience will come. Note: God does mention throughout the Scriptures to remember the past. But these are in context to remember who God is and His promises, and so experiences should only strengthen our faith in who He is. 
  3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

A. W. Tozer, a renowned American pastor in the mid-20th century, said,“I want the presence of God Himself, or I don’t want anything at all to do with religion… I want all that God has or I don’t want any.” Spend some time reflecting on this thought. Surprisingly, we can get caught up with chasing after experiences at the cost of seeking God’s presence. Take a moment to simply be still in His presence. Perhaps even ask God that He would reveal Himself in a new and fresh way.