May 24, Friday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on June 13, 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

“The Weight of Glory”

Revelation 10:1-4

I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire; 2 and he had in his hand a little book which was open. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left on the land; 3 and he cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars; and when he had cried out, the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices. 4 When the seven peals of thunder had spoken, I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken and do not write them.”

I’ve mentioned C.S. Lewis’ sermon The Weight of Glory in a previous quiet time, but there is a picture that Lewis draws for the believer in how to grasp the kind of glory God has designed us for. Lewis writes, “To please God… to be a real ingredient in the divine happiness… to be loved by God, not merely pitied, but delighted in as an artist delights in his work or a father in a son—it seems impossible, a weight or burden of glory which our thoughts can hardly sustain. But so it is.” The burden he writes of the glory of being God’s masterpiece is something beyond what we can imagine. 

There is something unique about this next chapter of Revelation that reveals the kind of glory that we have come to participate in. So far, whenever we have read of angels in Revelation, most of the focus has been upon their actions; this time, John takes extra time to describe in detail the characteristics of this other angel. Commentators note the language used to describe where his feet are placed (an identifying characterization of the angel repeated throughout this chapter). He is described to have the sea and the earth under his two feet, displaying his towering figure and the dominance he has over the world. His voice, like a lion, roar along with seven peals of thunder. Needless to say, the appearance of this angel (especially from John’s now shifted view from earth) is impressive. 

A few things to consider: this letter was written to the first century churches where they had incredible, violent oppression from the outside and divisive heresy from within. To the world, the church was a tiny, insignificant group of people, but to those whose eyes are open to the spiritual reality, we see in this angel just how great the kingdom of God truly is. The powers at work for God, and therefore, for the church, and the power of the good news that is proclaimed, stretches across all land and sea as the angel stands above them. The church, though seemingly insignificant in the eyes of the world, must realize that we are a part of a kingdom of utter glory and power. 

Brothers and sisters, may you be encouraged today as you recognize the grandness of the Kingdom that you are a part of. Through your union with Christ, you are now part of a God’s glorious Kingdom that cannot be shaken. Yes, we are called to fend for our faith and the church must be a faithful witness to the Lord. But also, we must remember who it is that we are defending. 

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for allowing us to be part of Your Kingdom that is so glorious and powerful. We proclaim that nothing can stop this Kingdom. Although in the eyes of this world, the church may look like a thing of the past or insignificant, we believe that the church is part of something so much bigger than what meets the eye. Help us to live with that kind of perspective. In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Deuteronomy 28

Lunch Break Study  

Read Hebrews 12:22-29: But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly[a] of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

Questions to Consider

  1. Verse 22 begins with the conjunction “but,” which causes us to look to what has come just before the passage. What comparison is the Hebrew writer making? 
  2. In verse 25-27, what will happen when the Lord once more shakes the earth and heaven? What does this reveal about what remains, that is, God’s kingdom?
  3. When you think about what it means that in Christ, you are a citizen of God’s Kingdom, how does this change your perspective on how you view your life?

Notes

  1. A contrasting is happening here—one that has been done throughout the book of Hebrews. The writer is comparing how God once related to His people in the times of Moses (where they could not even come close to the mountain of God lest they be struck dead) and now, in Christ our great Mediator, we are able to join in the assembly of God’s Kingdom. 
  2. The Lord declares that He will once more shake the earth and heavens so that only what is unshakeable (meaning, only the things that have been made perfect and righteous) will stand. It is a picture of God’s Kingdom that is holy and pure, a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, one whose King is a consuming fire that will devour anything that is unrighteous.
  3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

One of the greatest challenges of life is fighting the temptation of being consumed by the things of this world—to make our lives all about our jobs, our families, our achievements, or even our struggles. But as you have reflected upon the awe-inspiring Kingdom of God whose King is for you, how has this challenged your perspective on life? Engage your imagination and see how God has made you part of that Kingdom and how that challenges the way you view your current circumstances.   

May 23, Thursday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on May 25, 2017, is provided by Phillip Chen who is associate pastor at Kairos Christian Church in San Diego. Phil is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Remembering Our First Love”

Revelation 2:1-7 (ESV) 

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’”

John was writing this to the church of Ephesus that was planted out of an awesome fear of the Lord. There was a great display of God’s greatness and power and might, which led to true repentance. Acts 19 tells us that the Holy Spirit moved so mightily in their midst that even handkerchiefs that Paul touched were used for the healing of people—these were people of incredible faith and incredible expectation. The accounts go on that the seven sons of Sceva tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus as some sort of ritual or sorcery. Basically, they were trying to copycat what Paul was doing but to no avail. It says that they were overcome by evil spirits, and most importantly, when people saw this and heard of this occurrence, there was a great fear that fell upon them. People repented to the degree that they came and confessed their sins; not only that, they brought their books of sorcery and occult, and burned it.

They were adamant about keeping sound doctrine, vigorously growing in their knowledge of God and vehemently protecting the faith from heretical teachers who would seek to lead the church astray. However, despite all of the good that was happening in the Ephesian church, the focus of this message actually is on this indictment. One scholar says that this isn’t just a slipping of their first love, but this can be described as a definite and sad departure. Spurgeon, a great English preacher, said this: “A church has no reason for being a church when she has no love within her heart, or when that love grows cold. Lose love, lose all.” He is saying that without love towards God and people, the church has betrayed her purpose and has no reason for existence. Therefore, we must be careful to check our hearts and see whether we have stumbled to a place where we have lost our first love. 

I was looking at the weather channel as I was writing this, and an article caught my eye: “9 Abandoned Lighthouses Around the World”—Forgotten Beacons. In the tagline, it said: “They used to guide ships safely into harbor but the lights are now out at these eerie, abandoned and inactive lighthouses.” As lighthouses are meant to guide ships safely into harbors, churches are meant to guide lost souls safely into the arms of our Father. When light is extinguished from a lighthouse, it no longer serves its purpose. Similarly, when love is extinguished from a church, it no longer serves its purpose. And when we lose our love, we lose our purpose. 

The sad thing is that today, modern day Ephesus is in Turkey, and in doing a cursory look of Christianity in Turkey, we find that there are very few Christians (relatively-speaking) in this area. Turkey is 98% Muslim. Whereas Christianity was once the official religion in 380, it slowly disintegrated and Islam became the major religion. Currently, there is estimated to be 120,000 Christians and 26,000 Jews residing in Turkey today. When they left their first love, they left their purpose. 

Prayer: Father God, remind me again of my first love. When ministry gets tough, when things seem to become routine in my life, I pray that You would remind me of Your sweet presence. When it seems so difficult to continue pressing forward, help me to remember Your love that captivated my heart that very first time, and remind me once again why I am running this race. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Deuteronomy 27

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 22:35-40 (ESV): And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Question to Consider

1. What is the greatest commandment?

2. How important is this commandment?

3. Have you grown weary of loving God and loving others? 

Notes

1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. Love Him with all of your might! We are also to love our neighbor as ourselves.

2. Not only is this the greatest commandment, but this is the commandment that acts as the cornerstone for all of the Law and the Prophets. All other commandments that were given were with a basis of loving God and loving others.

3. Personal reflection.

Evening Reflection

Think about what “first love” looks like. One story that comes to mind is the woman with the alabaster jar (Matthew 26:6-13). As you think about the way this woman lavished her love upon Jesus, reflect upon your own life. Is this the way you lovingly approach the Lord?

May 22, Wednesday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on June 7, 2017, is written by Tina Pham who, along with her family, is serving in E. Asia as a missionary. Tina is a graduate of Biola University (BA) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The End Result Outweighs the Present Discomfort”

Revelation 3:7-9

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia… ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.’”

Has anyone ever asked you, “If rejection were not a factor, how would you outwardly express your faith?”  Whatever your answer may be, you would probably set out to do it with an increased boldness and steadfastness. 

In this passage, God is assuring the 1st century church in Philadelphia of His unshakable love and acceptance for them. He gave them “an open door which no one can shut.” Why was this a significant affirmation for the church?

At that time, the small congregation in Philadelphia faced great opposition from the Jews—or more specifically, people who falsely claimed themselves as Jews (v. 9). Very likely, the believers in Philadelphia were former Jews who became Christians and were rejected and ridiculed by the local Jewish synagogue because they professed that Jesus was the Messiah.  God’s Spirit is reassuring them that even though the door to the synagogue is shut, the door into the messianic kingdom remains open forever. Though they were vulnerable outcasts in the eyes of their oppressors, God commends them for keeping His Word and not denying His Name publicly. Furthermore, God promises the church that He himself will show their oppressors that He has chosen the church and loves them (v. 9). One day, the oppression will end and those who attacked them before will actually “come and bow down at your feet.” This gives the church continuous boldness against harsh rejection, because they know they are on the right path with God and that their present suffering is small compared to their future reward. 

Having assurance of your eternal home in God’s kingdom, how do you want to live your life in the present? How are you responding to your present hardships and discomforts? This morning, let’s ask God to give us the same faithfulness that the church at Philadelphia lived out. 

Prayer: Dear Jesus, Your love and acceptance is constant and unchanging. I praise and thank You! Lord, please help me to follow the example of these believers in Philadelphia who kept Your Word and did not deny your Name in times of opposition. As You are faithful to me, help me to be a faithful witness of your Name. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Deuteronomy 26

Lunch Break Study

Read Isaiah 60:14-15: “The sons of those who afflicted you will come bowing to you, and all those who despised you will bow themselves at the soles of your feet; and they will call you the city of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel. Whereas you have been forsaken and hated with no one passing through, I will make you an everlasting pride, a joy from generation to generation.”

Questions to Consider

1. What is the context of this promise?

2. What will “the sons of those who afflicted you” notice about Israel?

3. What does this promise reveal to you about God?

Notes

1. God is telling Israel through the prophet Isaiah what will happen when they are lifted up from exile and when God restores Israel. Among the many good things to come, one thing is that the nations who treated Israel negatively will in the future treat Israel differently. God will cause this to happen. 

2. They will recognize that Israel is the people of God, the city of the Lord. They will ascribe honor to Israel because of God, the Holy One of Israel.

3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

The church at Philadelphia is an example of a people who waited upon God to be exalted, to be lifted up. They followed the humility of Christ. When they were persecuted, they did not return evil with evil. They continued to acknowledge Jesus and to follow Jesus. Tonight, reflect on Jesus’ teaching in Luke 14:11: “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” 

May 21, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was first posted on June 27, 2017.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Equipped for the Task” 

Revelation 11:3-6

 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. 6 These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.

I took an exegesis class on Revelation in seminary because I wanted to understand the things that are to come—it was a great class! Yet, I left it with more questions than answers. But one thing I did learn, and of which I am reminded every time I read Revelation, is just how unstoppable are the plans of God. When God gives His authority to His servants and equips them with His power, they are literally unstoppable to accomplish what it is He has for them to do.  There is debate among Bible scholars about exactly who these two witnesses are: some say they are prophets from long ago brought back to life (e.g. Moses, Elijah, or Enoch), or others say they are people unknown to us now who will be living at the time of the vision’s fulfillment. Regardless of where you stand in your interpretation, it is clear from these verses that with God’s authority and power, they are unstoppable to accomplish His purposes. 

Two topics about which I am asked most often are spiritual gifts and calling: How do I know what my gifts are? How do I know how to engage them? How do I discern my calling? While the redundancy of the question isn’t super thrilling, I am always extremely encouraged to see the young people around me hungry to know how they can best serve God. While I take time to offer what I’ve learned from Scripture and from my years of walking with Jesus about spiritual gifts and calling, I always try to make sure to remind them that our most powerful spiritual gift is the Holy Spirit, and our most clear calling is to be children of God and to make disciples. With that kind of authority and power at work within us, we are absolutely unstoppable (regardless of how we specifically feel led to advance the Kingdom of God) in accomplishing God’s good purposes in the world. 

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

Bible Reading for Today: Deuteronomy 25

Lunch Break Study

Read Acts 1:4-8: Gathering them [the disciples] together, He [Jesus] commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

Questions to Consider

  1. How can we receive Jesus’ admonition to His disciples in these verses in light of God’s further revelation in the New Testament books (especially the book of Revelation)?  
  2. Instead of focusing on when God would accomplish His ultimate end, the disciples are encouraged by Jesus to focus on their part in God’s plan. What does He call them to do (i.e. what is their part in God’s plan)? How will they be equipped for the task? 
  3. What does it mean for you to be Jesus’ witness today through the power of the Holy Spirit? 


Notes

  1. Obviously, God has given us more insight into future things through the book of Revelation than what the disciples had when they asked Jesus the question recorded in these verses. However, we are still left with many questions of our own and much to interpret, even with John’s vision recorded in Revelation and the apostles’ words recorded in the rest of the New Testament. While we should feel free to ask of the Lord concerning the things to come and to interpret His divine revelation concerning such things given in Scripture (responsibly, of course, and with sound exegesis), we have to also recognize the limitations of what we can know and be content with those limitations. 
  2. Jesus calls them to be His witnesses locally and abroad. They will be equipped for the task through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and the power of God at work in them (through the Holy Spirit). 
  3. Spend some time in personal reflection. 

Whether it is in ways that we normatively call “supernatural” or in ways that we evaluate as “ordinary,” God’s Spirit is at work in each of us to witness to the world who Jesus is and what God is up to (the gospel message of God’s salvation and coming Kingdom). That is a fact! We just have to be willing vessels for the Spirit to work through us. We can do this by the way we live our lives (according to God’s truth and not the world’s), the words we say to others (words of God’s love—in sharing the Gospel or simply speaking truth in love), and the many other ways we step out in faith to be used by God. All of it, even the seemingly mundane, is supernatural if we are conduits for the Spirit of God to use in pointing others to Jesus (for their salvation and redemption). 

Evening Reflection

Preachers and Bible expositors in many forms love to point out that the most often repeated command in the Bible is, “Do not fear.” And with good reason, God reminds us not to be afraid a whole lot throughout Scripture! More so than a lack of gifting or awareness of calling, fear is what often hinders God’s work through His people. Fear of man (fear of others – judgment, rejection, etc. – or fear of ourselves – failure, inadequacy, etc.) often prevents us from entering into the work God is already doing around us. Our authority is sure as children of God, and our power is unmatched as temples of the Holy Spirit. So, many times, the only thing stopping us is us. 

What are the ways God is calling you to join in the work He is doing in the communities around you and in lives of the people around you? How might He be challenging you to move from your local spheres of influence to be His witness abroad? Spend some time in prayer concerning these things – petitioning and listening to God. Ask God for His heart and His courage to be His witness.  

May 20, Monday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on July 17, 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

“The Most Powerful Encouragement”

Galatians 1:10

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

A little while ago, I was gifted an Amazon Echo named Alexa. One of the most interesting features of this device is the “Casual Compliment Machine.” Basically when you enable this feature, you can call upon Alexa to spew all sorts of kind words to you. I haven’t tried this feature out yet, but I don’t doubt that aside from the initial hilarity, it could marginally increase my self-esteem. 

There is, however, a source of encouragement that is at least a hundred times more potent than a kind word from Alexa: encouragement which comes from another person. One word of encouragement from another human being is worth at least a hundred self-initiated encouragements, wouldn’t you agree? 

But there’s more. Even stronger than encouragement given to you by another, is encouragement that you overhear! The feeling you get when you happen to be within earshot of a conversation in which you are being positively affirmed is sublime. To know that other people genuinely approve of you is something that most (if not all) of us sincerely desire. So powerful are overheard encouragements that they even have the power to sculpt our view of ourselves, permanently!

But there is one final source of encouragement, one that is infinitely more potent than even those you overhear! And that is when God Himself says to us, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” As Christians, we do not live to be approved by people. Although approval and encouragements from others are definitely blessings, they are not what we are living for. We live to please our Lord! The incredible thing is that in Christ, God has already approved us, and He has already spoken acceptance over us! Today, open your heart to allow that powerful truth to shape the way you live. 

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that in Christ I am already approved by You. Let the work of my hands, feet, mouth, and mind be done in light of this truth: that I am Your child. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Deuteronomy 24

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 8:1-5: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

Questions to Consider

  1. According to this passage, what kind(s) of people are free from condemnation?
  2. How did God accomplish what we could not do?
  3. Having been set free from the condemnation of the law, how are we to now live?

Notes

  1. According to this passage, those who are “in Christ Jesus” are set free from the law of sin and death, and there is no longer condemnation.
  2. The problem was that we could not live up to God’s righteous standard as described by the law. Therefore, having fallen short of God’s standard, everyone was under condemnation. God’s solution was to send his own Son in the flesh under the law, to fulfill on our behalf all the requirements of the law, and take upon Himself all the condemnation that ought to have been on us. Consequently, we have been set free from the condemning requirements of the law! 
  3. The passage instructs us to walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Paul then elaborates on this by explaining that “those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.” “Things of the flesh” could mean worldly pleasures/temptations, but it also encompasses worldly accomplishments/merits as a means of validating our worth. Those who are in Christ should not chase after these things, even if our society does. Our minds should be fixed on the Kingdom of God.

Evening Reflection

This evening, spend some time receiving God’s love for you. Whether your day was full of accomplishments, or loaded with failures, or even if you just felt numb to it all, you do not live for the approval of man, but for God. The good news is that He has already spoken approval over you. As you reflect on your day, speak God’s approval over your own heart.

May 19, Sunday

REPOSTToday’s Spiritual Food for Thought, written by Pastor Mark Chun, was originally posted on March 12, 2013. Mark, a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.), presently serves as a staff at Radiance Christian Church in S.F.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Shame”

Genesis 4:1-10 (ESV)

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” 8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.

After writing about singleness and marriage from 1 Corinthians, I thought it would be fitting to end my week of blogs with some thoughts on the family. In the eighties there was show on PBS hosted by John Bradshaw that unpacked the role that our family of origin has on our personality formation.  The research is hard to deny.  As individuals, we are a product of our upbringing and therefore, we are not as free or as independent as we think we are.  Our families impact us to degrees that are unimaginable and outside of our scope of conscious thought.  So this has a trickledown effect: if individuals are sick emotionally, this means that our family systems are sick; if our families are dysfunctional,  society as a whole manifests these symptoms of brokenness.  In his book on the family, Bradshaw cites that “…shame is the source of most of the disturbing inner states which deny full human life.  Depression, alienation, self-doubt, isolating loneliness, paranoid and schizoid phenomena, compulsive disorders, splitting of the self, perfectionism, a deep sense of inferiority, inadequacy or failure, the so-called borderline conditions and disorders of narcissism, all result from shame.  Shame is a kind of soul murder.  Forged in the matrix of our source relationships, shame conditions every other relationship in our lives.” 

Now before you discount this as meaningless psychological mumbo jumbo, let’s think about the message of Genesis.  We are told that before the fall, before sin, “the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.”  After the fall, according to Genesis 3:7, “… the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked.  And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.”  So the Bible, 1000s of years before Sigmund Freud or Carl Jung, understood that the driving mechanism of sin is the shame that it produces.  Theologians talk about sin being imputed from Adam to the rest of humanity and along with the imputation of sin is the shame that it produces.   And it is this shame at the bottom line that leads to the many unmentionable sins in the family. 

We see the effects of shame and sin in the story of Cain and Abel.  One key to understanding this passage comes from looking at the names of the two brothers involved in the story.  The birth of Cain is a celebrated event and his mother essentially gives him the name “Begotten of God”.  Martin Luther in his commentary on Genesis describes this as Eve putting all of her Messianic hopes on her first-born son.  He is the one who is going to save the family.  I want you to notice the language Eve uses to describe this newborn child.  It is not “Oh what a cute baby we have or what cuddly bundle of joy.”  People tend to get really childish when they see a baby but Eve looks at her newborn and calls him a man.  These were the high expectation for Cain’s life.  And so he grows up to be strong and manly, and best of all he becomes a farmer just like his dad.  But unknowingly, Eve elevates Cain at the cost of Abel, whose name literally means “breath”.  It is the same word that is translated as “meaningless” or “vanity” from the book of Ecclesiastes.   It is little wonder that Cain thought so little about his brother’s life given their own parents attitude towards his younger sibling.  

These are the type of dynamics that sin creates in the most important of all our relationships, our family.  But this is precisely why the gospel is such good news!  As Peter preaches the first sermon in the history of the Christian church, he tells the broken crowd, “The promise (of the gospel) is for you and for your children and for those far off.”  I pray that the Lord will bless and bring healing to all the families the call on His name.      

Prayer:  Lord, you have the words of life not only for ourselves but also for those whom we love.  We lift up our families to you and though we try to be strong, we know that there are problems that sin causes.  At times we feel lost and despair over many things including our marriages and our children.  In the midst of our worry, help us to trust in your goodness and to apply your word to every situation even if it doesn’t seem to make sense.  We look to you because that is where our help comes from.  

Bible Reading for Today:Deuteronomy 23

May 18, Saturday

REPOSTToday’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on April 22, 2017.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Delusional Christianity”

2 Corinthians 4:2

Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

Taking liberty of what the apostle Paul says here, I am going to set forth the truth of what we (Western Christians) are really like before God—our secret, shameful and deceptive ways!

Chris, a tall and lanky American whom I befriended while attending the same seminary, had already spent eight years in Mozambique as a missionary, when he came to speak at my church’s summer retreat as the guest speaker. (This happened a while back.)  In one presentation, he recounted how exceedingly difficult it had been to minister in this very poor country, but by God’s grace, he and his young family were determined to serve the people there.  So moving was his heartfelt sharing that—especially how he almost died when the ship that was carrying him (to a ministry) was at the brink of shipwreck after getting caught in a hail storm—it was enough to make a grown man cry.  That is why it was so incredulous to hear two young-adults, who said to me after the service, “Does that missionary think that he is the only one suffering; we suffer, too, at work!”  What a nonsensical comparison; what a delusion! 

Actually, suffering for Christ the way Chris experienced is a concept that is beyond us who live in the comforts of modernity.  Most of us don’t really know experientially what Paul meant when he penned, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed. . . Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 5:8, 16).  Its reverse is more like it: “Thanks to our cushy lifestyle, we are not pressed at all and certainly not crushed. . . Because outwardly we are getting ‘fatter’ and ‘softer,’ we are wasting away spiritually day by day.”  “Too harsh,” you say?—only if we are measuring our faith to a new norm, that is, the watered-down version of what is passed off as optimal Christianity.  Yes, I am opening myself to criticism (“You self-righteous judger”), but I always chuckle whenever I see this tract, produced by a well-known parachurch on campus, that suggests that our daily 7-minute with God should be spent this way: three minutes in prayer, and four minutes reading the Bible.  Really?  To believe that seven minutes a day is enough to cultivate an intimate relationship with God is both deceptive and delusional.  The sad truth is that most Christians don’t even do that much.  For instance, Christianity Today reports that “only 19% of churchgoers personally read the Bible every day.”  

For the past six weeks, I have been in San Francisco to train several young pastors on the move.  Each day begins with a 6 AM prayer meeting.  We keep the singing and sharing to its minimum (15 minutes), so that the next 75 minutes are spent praying individually. Our goal is to firmly establish this habit and exercise it for the rest of their lives.  Why?  Of course, it is to build our intimacy with God, but also that we might wake up from our delusion that we really are something before God when we aren’t much spiritually.  (Yes, I know—positionally, we are always perfect in Christ.)  If anything, dragging our body to church that early REALLY helps us to “fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”  

Let’s not be too impressed with ourselves with so little that we do for the Lord—that’s a delusion.  Let’s extract ourselves from a life of comfort and frivolous luxury; reign over the desires and excesses of the flesh; and let us deny ourselves and take up his cross daily and follow Christ (Lk. 9:23).

Prayer: Lord, I am tired of just knowing that I need to read the Bible, but not acting upon it.  So, speak loudly to my soul—“Read the Bible daily!”  Lord, I am tired of just talking about the need to pray but not praying.  So, speak even louder to my soul— “Pray always!”  Help my laziness so that I can live a life that is worthy of Your calling. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Deuteronomy 21-22

May 17, Friday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Doug Tritton, was first posted on March 31, 2017.  A graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), Doug is the Lead Pastor of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Earnestly Desire to Prophesy”

1 Corinthians 14:1-5

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

 Early in his prophetic career, Isaiah had a powerful encounter with God. He says this: “I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew” (Isaiah 6:1-2). Basically, Isaiah saw what was going on in heaven.

Sometimes, we can forget that heaven is a place of much activity and think of God as a distant person, who set everything in motion and let it all play out. But no, heaven is a busy place and God is working and His angels are working. So, what does this have to do with today’s passage? Well, prophecy is basically seeing into the heavenly realm and seeing what God and His angels are doing or will do. The truth is, God is at work, even though we may not see this.

Often people will ask, isn’t prophecy about seeing the future? Well, sometimes – but biblical prophecy more often concerns things happening here and now. As have I said, prophecy is seeing into the heavenly realm. This is why Paul urged everyone to desire prophecy. When we prophesy, we essentially open up heaven for others to see. We open up God’s workings so that the whole church can be encouraged at what God is doing. 

Today, let’s ask for the gift of prophecy. Though not all have this gift, Scripture tells us to earnestly desire prophecy. And with this gift, there is a special way we can bless the church – for its “up building, encouragement, and consolation.”

Prayer: Lord, Your word tells us to earnestly seek the gift of prophecy, so today we ask that we may prophesy. You are at work and You are inviting us to join You, so help us to see You, to know what You are doing. Give us spiritual eyes to see You. Use us to build up Your church. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Deuteronomy 20

Lunch Break Study  

Read Luke 11:9-13: 3 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Questions to Consider

  1. What happens when we seek, ask, and knock?
  2. What can we learn about God from this passage?
  3. How can we receive more of the Holy Spirit in our lives?

Notes

  1. Verse 10 says, “For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” There is power in asking God, because as Scripture tells us, our God is a God who loves to give! James 1:5 says that God “gives generously to all without reproach.” Thinking about this morning’s passage, let’s ask for the gift of prophecy!
  2. Our God loves to give to us, His children. If even earthly fathers give good gifts to their children, how much more will our Heavenly Father give good gifts to us. And moreover, He gives the greatest gift – the Holy Spirit! Today, let’s ask for more of the Spirit in our lives!
  3. ASK! Perhaps we have been struggling in faith because we simply haven’t asked for more of the Spirit recently. Ephesians 5:18 tells us to “be filled with the Spirit”—and this filling comes through asking.

Evening Reflection

Take time to ask God again for the gift of prophecy. As we studied at lunchtime, there is power in asking; so let’s bring our request to God, having faith that He is a good Father who loves to give generously to His children without reproach. And if not prophecy, let’s ask Him to show us the gifting He has given us.

May 16, Thursday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on June 8, 2017, is written by Tina Pham who, along with her family, is serving in E. Asia as a missionary. Tina is a graduate of Biola University (BA) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Incomparable and Personal Love of God”

Revelation 3:10-11 (ESV) 

“Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.”

One thing I enjoy doing in my church community is listening to older women of faith share about their spiritual markers in life. Their testimonies show me how God met them in a personal and intimate way when they faced trials and seasons of wilderness. I would also hear some share about their thoughts during seasons of waiting: “I know God will do so and so because He told me… He promised me…” I was always really encouraged and challenged by how close they were to God and how God spoke to them in such a personal way—like a father to a child. It made me desire all the more to draw close to God to hear His words and promises for my life. This is the same theme I see in the relationship between the Philadelphia church and God. 

God dearly loves this church because they display enduring faithfulness to His name in the midst of persecution, seizing opportunities to proclaim His name. They are small in number but their tenacity of faith is great. God personally promises the church that He will preserve them during the hour of trial that everyone on earth will face at the end times. He will do it because He is so pleased with their faithfulness to Him. God exhorts them to finish the unique path that they have been given – “hold fast what you have” – and they will receive a crown that is specifically prepared for them.

In the Bible, there are promises of God that extend to all children of God, but there are also promises that God gives personally to certain people or a certain church—and this displays how personal our God is. His personal promise gives the hearer hope to finish well. God’s love is not likened to a loving parent who cuts a cake into equal slices so that no child will feel partiality. His love is not distributed into small pieces for each child or church; rather, His love is whole, infinite, and unique towards each person, spurring each person on to live according His perfect will and plan.  What would it look like for you to pursue a relationship with God similar to that of the Philadelphians? 

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I praise You and thank You for Your faithfulness to me! Teach me and strengthen me to have patience endurance, that I may express my love to You through the act of perseverance. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Deuteronomy 19

Lunch Break Study

Read Jeremiah 31:1-3: “At that time, declares the Lord, I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people. Thus says the Lord, ‘The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”

Questions to Consider

1. What is the historical context of this passage?

2. What is evident about God’s love in this passage?

3. In what circumstances have you experienced God’s everlasting and tangible love? Do you hunger to experience God’s everlasting love today? What hinders you?

Notes

1. God is speaking to Israel through the prophet Jeremiah. The people of Israel and Judah had been in exile for many years as a result of their unfaithfulness to God during the years of living in the Promised Land. God is speaking to them about His enduring faithfulness to those who looked to Him during the years of exile.

2. Israel experienced a greater depth of God’s love during the times of wilderness and mistakes. God’s love is unwavering and everlasting. His faithfulness is enduring because of who He is and is not shaken by our actions, whether good or bad. 

3. Personal reflection.

Evening Reflection

Before going to sleep, be reminded of this truth about our awesome and unfathomable God: “For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you (Isaiah 54:10).   Now, sleep on that!

May 15, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 20, 2017.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Are You Keeping Scores?  It’s Tied”

Mathew 5:43-4

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

On the web, I found this statement: “Christians have invaded and colonized a dozen Muslim countries in the past 100 years.”  My response: Why start the discussion from such an arbitrary point; why not begin from the very outset of their clash at the geopolitical level?  Those who want to lay all the blame on the church may not want to go there, because it will not fit their revisionist and selective history.  

The first clash between these two groups occurred in the 8th century, when the Moors from North Africa, who had been conquered and converted to Islam by the Saracen Empire (from Middle East), successfully attacked Spain.  They then penetrated as far as central France (Tours) to subject the entire Europe to Islam. 

The next major clash was the infamous Crusades, beginning from 1095, for which the Roman Catholic Church owes a major apology to the Muslims, Jews and believers of the Eastern Church, since they all fell victims to these misguided and radicalized Christians from Europe.   If you are keeping scores, it is 1:1.

Now, here is how I became aware of the third clash.  In 1992, after Bosnia—as part of former Yugoslavia—declared its independence, the Serbs began the campaign to “cleanse” much of the Bosnian territory contiguous with Serbia.  Subsequently, as many as 2 million Bosnians (about 44% being Muslims) were displaced out of Bosnia.  While reading about this, I began wondering how these Eastern Europeans became Muslims in the first place.  It was because after the Ottoman Turks conquered the Serbs (including Bosnia in 1463), they forced the conversions of the Bosnian nobility, which one author described as “unusually harsh.”  Over the years, while one group of Serbs became Muslims, the rest continued to be part of the Orthodox Church.  

The 4th round of their conflict occurred when European countries such as England and France occupied Iraq and Syria, respectively, at the behest of the League of Nations after World War I.  This event and the Crusades, then, are selectively cited by the critics of the church to present Christianity in its worst light.  

Presently, the 5th round of their ongoing conflict (including the 9/11 and the military response thereafter by America) is played out on the soils of Europe and America through terrorism carried out by radicalized Muslims.   

No, don’t keep scores—that’s foolishness.  Instead, since we claim to follow Christ who taught us to “love your enemies,” let us love Muslims, most of whom are our neighbors, not enemies.  

Prayer: Lord, help me open my spiritual and theological eyes to understand that Your common grace is given to all, including Muslims.  Give me humility and soundness of mind not to paint all Muslims with a broad brush based on terroristic acts committed by radicalized Muslims.  Give me courage to love them. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Deuteronomy 18

Lunch Break Study 

Read Jonah 1:1-3 (NIV): The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord

Questions to Consider

1. Based on the prior (before the time of Jonah around 760 B.C.) and on-going conflict between Israel and Assyria (known for their cruelty), can you understand why Jonah did not want to preach in Nineveh?

2. What is one similarity between how Jonah felt toward the Assyrians and how some Christians in the West feel toward radicalized Muslims and their sympathizers?

3. The Assyrians worshipped many gods, including Tammuz (Ez. 8:14).  What is suggested by God’s call to Jonah to preach the message of repentance in Nineveh (the capital of the Assyrian Empire)?  How should that realization change us?

Notes

1. Yes, we can sympathize with Jonah.  Understandably, Jonah wanted to see the Assyrians pay for their ruthlessness and cruelty meted out against his people.  

2. The similarity is obvious: inasmuch as Jonah disliked the Assyrians, some Christians in the West dislike the Muslims because of terroristic acts committed by some radicalized Muslims. 

3. It shows clearly the heart of God for all nations, which is aptly summarized by the apostle Peter: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9).  We should all be dedicated to world missions, which, at its center, is bringing the gospel to the nations. 

Evening Reflection

When was the last time you read a book that deals with church history?  What was presented in the morning devotional came from the study of church history.  We must know it because the enemy is using revisionist history to debunk our faith (e.g., The Da Vinci Code).  Try Church History in Plain Language by Bruce Shelley (Thomas Nelson 2013).  Also, familiarize yourself with the kings of Israel by reading 1 & 2 Samuel; 1 & 2 Kings; and 1 & 2 Chronicles. 

History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life and brings us tidings of antiquity” –Roman historian Cicero (106-43 B.C.)