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.) 

May 14, Tuesday 

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Andrew Kim, was originally posted on June 13, 2017.  Andrew, a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.) is presently pastoring Alive Church in Montreal.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Can Singing Worship Songs be a Powerful Experience?” 

Revelation 5:9-10

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

During one of the most challenging times of my life, I discovered that singing worship songs could be a powerful exercise of faith.  As I struggled to remain steadfast with my heart full of doubts, it was difficult to sing lyrics that proclaimed the hope of God. Everything around me just seemed like evidence that proved my doubts, making it almost impossible to sing the words on the screen with full conviction. Yet as I worshipped and praised God with words that I did not fully believe, God began to turn my heart towards His hope. I found that in the simple act of bringing my doubts before Him and singing with the small amount of conviction I possessed, He met me where I was, helping me to believe in the words before me. Singing worship songs became a new reservoir of strength and power that I could now draw from. I would not have persevered without it. 

Similarly, the recipients of the letter of Revelation were going through trying times.  Under the Roman Empire, being faithful to the ways of God was not an easy task for them. Rome’s manner of life was attractive and the pressure to conform was crushing. The difficulty was experienced on many levels: they were socially marginalized, economically disadvantaged, and culturally isolated. For these reasons, the temptation to succumb was incredibly powerful. However, in Revelation 5:9-10, they were given a new song to sing—a song proclaiming the victory of their King and the hope of a future kingdom where they will reign with God. They would one day experience a new world where there will be no more pain or suffering. Although it might have been difficult to believe in these words, this new song was to function as a source of hope, helping the believers to overcome and remain steadfast until the end. 

In the same way, many of us are having difficulty remaining hopeful in God. However, let us not distance ourselves away from His presence but sing songs that proclaim His hope. He will meet us in His grace, giving us what we do not possess and providing all that we need to be victorious! 

Prayer: Father, thank You that even in our weakness and lack of faith, You still meet us. I pray that especially in times of difficulty, You would provide me with the strength and perseverance to remain faithful to Your cause. Give me the type of faith that praises You in every circumstance and situation. Amen! 

Bible Reading for Today: Deuteronomy 17

Lunch Break Study 

Read Psalm 103:1-5: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits—3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5 who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.


Questions to Consider 

  1. What is the crucial step that the psalmist takes in verse 2, which leads him to bless God? 
  2. What are the benefits that the psalmist blesses the Lord for?
  3. How have worship songs played a role in your relationship with God? Take some time to reflect. 

Notes 

  1. The psalmist does “not forget all His benefits.” The first step in blessing and praising God is learning to frequently remember His goodness towards us, especially when it’s difficult to see it.  
  2. The psalmist blesses the Lord for God’s forgiveness, healing, redemption, steadfast love, and the satisfying of his soul. 
  3. Personal response. 

Evening Reflection 

Before going to sleep, take some time to reflect on your life and give thanks for God’s faithfulness, goodness, and grace. 

Psalm 77:11-12: “I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord;I will remember your wonders of old.12 I will meditate on all your work,and muse on your mighty deeds.”

May 13, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Jabez Yeo who is now a friend of AMI, was first posted on February 20, 2017. He is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (B.S.) and Columbia International University where he studied Islam (M.A.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning 

“Orphans or Children of God?”

Galatians 4:4-5

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 

If any group of sports fans understood the misery of losing, it was fans of the Chicago Cubs. Leading up to the 2016 season, the Cubs had not won the World Series—baseball’s ultimate prize—in 108 years. Furthermore, the Cubs would fall short in the most agonizing ways whenever they made the playoffs, leading some to believe that the team was cursed. Thankfully, on November 2nd 2016, the Cubs finally won the World Series—and Chicago exploded with joy. At the victory parade, there were over five million fans celebrating, the 7th largest gathering in human history.

For the Cubs fans, they knew what the appropriate reaction was to their long-awaited victory: joy, freedom from anxiety, gratitude, etc. While we may not all be Cubs fans, as Christians, we have received the ultimate victory through Jesus: victory over death, sin and Satan. We were condemned by the law and its burden was too great for us to carry; but through Jesus, who was born under the law (Gal. 4:4), we have been redeemed under the law and by faith and are now adopted as sons and daughters (Gal. 4:5).

If such an amazing victory is ours, where is our joy and freedom? More often than not, such lack reveals the fact that we live as spiritual orphans instead of God’s children. Instead of walking in faith and living according to God’s promises, we live on a succeed/fail basis, using our accomplishments to compare ourselves to others, which leads to either pride or depression. Instead of remembering that there is no striving in love, we labor under a sense of unlimited obligation, believing that everything depends on us. 

Instead of finding satisfaction in God alone, we look for satisfaction in our idols, “drinking from other cisterns” instead of the living water (Jeremiah 2:13).

For the next two weeks, we will be going through how our orphan-like tendencies can creep into our everyday lives. But thankfully, we will also be going through how we can experience the new life promised to us as God’s children. Let’s pray that God would reveal more of Himself.

Prayer: Father, thank You that I can call You exactly that: Father. I am not alone but I have You as my Father, 

Friend and Lover. Yet, I confess that I live as if You do not exist. I confess that I do not live in freedom or joy but in self-righteousness and fear. I confess that my life does not reflect the promises You have given me. Bring me back to You again. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

Lunch Break Study 

Read Romans 8:14-5: For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 

Bible Reading for Today: Deuteronomy 16

Questions to Consider

1. How do these verses describe those who are living under fear?

2. We are no longer slaves to fear but children of God. How then should we live?

3. What fears do you need to surrender to God today?

Notes

1. Those who live in fear are described as slaves. They are not free to live in power and joy but are chained to their own anxieties. 

2. As children of God, we should be led by the Spirit who reminds us of our adoption to sonship. As children, we can continually cry out to our Father for His help in the midst of our helplessness. 

3. Personal response (e.g., fear of failure, fear of being abandoned, fear of death, etc.)

Evening Reflection

What other truths of being a child of God did He reveal to you today? If He hasn’t, take some time and ask Him to speak to You. Once He does, thank Him and ask Him for faith to live that truth out.

May 12, Sunday

REPOSTToday’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on February 26, 2017, is provided by Jane Oak, who serves at Tapestry Church, Los Angeles. Jane is an immigration lawyer.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Marriage is Good!”

Genesis 2:18, 1:28 

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make a helper fit for him.” And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply.”

After my parents’ divorce when I was 9 years old, I quickly had to grow up and take on adult responsibilities, such as caring for my little brother, comforting my depressed mother, and figuring out ways to reduce the utility bills. With many years of carrying these burdens, I really enjoyed the freedom I experienced after graduating high school and leaving home. I would play and stay out late, but I also became very involved in church and ministry, investing a lot of time into my younger sisters. I enjoyed this lifestyle so much that the idea of marriage and having a man to take care of was not appealing to me. I wanted to do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, with whomever I wanted. For the next 20 years, I went into and out of many relationships. And, in my explanation to others as to why I broke up with my boyfriend/fiancé, I used the noble excuse of, “Oh, I wanted to have more impact for the Kingdom of God. I need my freedom to give more time to the church and to my sisters. Marriage will reduce my impact because I would have to worry about my husband and domestic responsibilities.” 

Everyone who heard this would agree with me, except for this one deaconess.  Her response to me was, “If it’s all about greater impact for the Kingdom of God, you are limiting yourself by staying single. Right now, you can mainly impact women. But, if you get married, through your influence on your husband, you can impact many men. And, if you have children, you will impact many children. Also, it is through marriage that your character will become more like Christ. You really need to think again about your excuse for not getting married.” I was cut to the heart.

I decided to read the Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller, which completely changed my perspective on marriage. And, by God’s grace and orchestration, I met Harry Yoon three years ago. I knew he had not been in the church for 20 years, but I could clearly see that he was falling in love with God and the community (if you haven’t already, you need to read Harry’s testimony on the Tapestry website).  Now, we have co-led three cell groups and I hear numerous stories of how the men are growing and maturing because of Harry’s wisdom, humility, honesty, and leadership. We decided not to have biological children, but together, we care for many spiritual children at Tapestry. It is such a joy to constantly talk about our spiritual children, to pray for them, and to serve them as a couple. Indeed, my view on marriage has changed. Marriage with God at the center results in an even greater impact for the Kingdom. Therefore, marriage is good!

Prayer: Lord, I praise and glorify You this morning.  I pray that our marriages are being reoriented and shaped in accordance to Your original blue print for the institution of marriage.  Whether married or single, may we yield greater fruits for your Kingdom through serving You faithfully.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Deuteronomy 15