February 2, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional, originally posted on March 11, 2019, was written by Tina Tsu.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Justice is His Work”

Exodus 11:1-3, 12:35-36

Now the Lord said to Moses, “One more plague I will bring on Pharaoh and on Egypt; after that he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out from here completely. Speak now in the hearing of the people that each man ask from his neighbor and each woman from her neighbor for articles of silver and articles of gold.” The Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Furthermore, the man Moses himself was greatly esteemed in the land of Egypt, both in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing;  and the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

Psalm 103:6 

“The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.”

When it comes to asking people for help, we all differ in our degree of courage in asking. Some of us may feel confident knowing the validity of our request, and others of us tend to feel afraid to ask, due to feeling like a burden or inconvenience. In today’s passage, God instructs the Israelites through Moses to ask the Egyptians for articles of gold and silver. In a way, God is instructing the Israelites to ask for justice, for these articles would serve as the wages for all their hard labor under severe oppression. I could only imagine the fear I would feel to approach my oppressor to ask for these materials. However, the emphasis in the passage is that the Egyptians’ response, as well as justice for the Israelites, are all God’s doing. 

When the Lord instructed the Israelites to ask for articles of gold and silver, He was preparing to execute the last plague in Egypt which would finally cause Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave. It is my guess that the Israelites would have been overjoyed simply to be delivered from slavery, but God made it a point for them to receive their wages for their labor from Egypt through these articles. Through the nine previous plagues and His acts through Moses, God revealed his great power and might to the Egyptians. Though Pharaoh’s heart only became harder, the servants and people of Egypt saw how the God of Israel was greater than Egyptian power and Egyptian gods. Their hearts changed towards the Israelites and their fear of God grew. They had previously been oppressors, but they began to esteem Moses and to look upon the Israelites with greater respect. The Lord had given the Israelites favor in the eyes of the Egyptians. They would not leave Egypt empty-handed, but would have gold and silver, which would later become material for the tabernacle, the place where God’s presence would dwell. God’s act of justice worked towards their freedom, and they would be freed to serve and worship God. 

This morning, let us consider how God is the initiator and finisher of all that is fair and just. When justice is His doing, He causes those whom He wants to lift up to be esteemed in the eyes of others, and He gives great favor to them. Let this passage remind us that our welfare and life conditions are in God’s hands. 

Prayer: Dear Father, I praise You because You are a wonder-working God! You look upon those who are helpless in dark places and You work justice and righteousness for them. Lord, I pray that You would indeed work righteousness and justice for those who face oppression. I entrust their lives and future  into Your hands. May Your power and deeds cause oppressors to see You, and may their actions change as they witness Your greatness. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 1

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Peter 2:23-25: When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Questions to Consider

  • What is Peter emphasizing about Jesus Christ?
  • What is Peter’s message to his immediate readers?
  • Christ is the Shepherd and Overseer of your soul. How does this speak to you as you face your present, and perhaps difficult, circumstances?

Notes

  • Peter is referring to Christ’s suffering on the cross. When insults were directed to him on that day, he did not retaliate or act against his oppressors, but he entrusted himself to the Father. He made it his goal to be the Savior by bearing everyone’s sins on the cross. He did not act as the judge in that moment, but trusted God the Father to be the judge of all deeds.
  • Peter’s point is that since Christ bore our sins on the cross, we are no longer slaves to sin, but we are freed to live for righteousness. An aspect of living for righteousness is to follow in Christ’s footsteps, which is to not retaliate when we are treated harshly, but to entrust ourselves to God, who judges justly. Peter instructed his immediate readers to submit to their masters in v. 18, even if they are not treated well, as a way of following Christ’s example. 
  • Personal Response.

Evening Reflection

The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes. (Proverbs 21:1).

Scripture frequently reminds us that man’s authority and power will not prevail against God’s. Are you facing an unjust situation or a situation where you are falsely accused or misunderstood? Entrust your case to the Lord, and invite the Holy Spirit to give you strength to rest in the Lord’s timing and doing. 

February 1, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was originally posted on November 18, 2018.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Why Are You Here?”

Mark 10:28-31 (NET Bible)

Peter began to speak to him, “Look, we have left everything to follow you!” 29 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, there is no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel 30 who will not receive in this age a hundred times as much—homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, fields, all with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

I met a sister at an AMI conference who said, “Oh this makes sense! When I read your quiet times, I always wondered what kind of Asian last name is King.” Now that pictures are attached to these posts, you’ve probably figured out I’m not Asian. I’m Black.  I’ve been asked to reflect on my unique time as a Black person on staff in AMI. The topic is too big for this platform, but as I thought about what to share one phrase came to mind: “Why are you here?” 

I came to AMI ten years ago and have been on staff for eight, serving in three churches and staffing two church plants. In all of those spaces, I was regularly asked, “Why are you here?” usually in the form of, “Why do you come to our church?” or “What led you to AMI?” I used to hate these questions! They made me feel like I didn’t belong. And sometimes they felt absurd because people who had been in AMI for all of five minutes, who had just stumbled into a church that I HELPED PLANT were asking ME why I went to THEIR church! (I wanted to say, “Why do YOU go to MY church!?”)

We don’t have time for a lesson on how to welcome people who are different (I could write the book!) and I deeply understand that religious spaces are sacred in a unique way for minoritized groups in America. Those are important conversations for another day. But I will say that I no longer hate the question because it gives me an opportunity to testify! 

Practically speaking, I came to AMI because there was an AMI church walking distance from my dorm at a time when I was searching for God. I was so caught up in my wresting with the Lord, it took me a while to realize that the people there didn’t look like me (and even longer to care). When I joined AMI staff, it was because my pastor, whom I deeply trusted, invited me to… AND God said do it, so I did.   

God calls each of us to a life of obedience and sacrifice that often looks very strange. My journey is one that led me away from a career I wanted since I was 7, a huge family I love dearly, and a lifestyle I worked hard to make possible to a network that’s iffy about the ordination of women, a struggle for friendships with people who look nothing like me, and don’t get me started on the limitations of a preacher’s salary. But through it all I’ve been given a family that transcends anything this world could create. During my time in AMI, I’ve never been denied an opportunity to exercise my gifts, I rarely gone without treasured and life-giving relationships, and I’ve seen God’s provision in the amazing ways. 

Yes, my story is unique, but it really shouldn’t be. God calls all of us to strange lives of obedience and sacrifice. And if our lives aren’t prompting others to ask, “Why are you here?” then we are missing out on an opportunity to experience God’s promises and tell God’s story. 

Prayer: Sovereign God, You call me into a beautiful relationship with You and a peculiar life for Your glory. Help me to discern the reason why I am where I am today. Open my eyes to see the places and people to whom You are drawing me and help me to be present in those spaces even when it seems I don’t belong. Help me to obey Your call to lose my life in order to save it. May I be a living testimony of the truth of Your promise to supply my every need according to Your glorious riches. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Haggai 2

January 31, Saturday

REPOST  Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on November 24, 2018, is provided by Jennifer Kim who had served as a staff in multiple AMI churches in the past, She is a graduate of Boston University (B.A.) and Alliance Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Favoritism Forbidden”

James 2:1-9

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 

I distinctly remember my 1st grade teacher who would give out “special assignments” to her students. These assignments were small tasks such as delivering papers to teachers or retrieving mails from the office. Why it was special, I’m not quite sure anymore since it was simply running errands for the teacher; but it was an excuse to get out of the classroom with a “buddy” of your choosing. In the beginning of the year, I would raise my hand expectantly, but every time I found myself putting my hand down discouraged. It didn’t take me long, however, to realize that my teacher would always pick the same girl, and that girl would always pick the same friend! My teacher had a favorite whom she picked every single time, and that student had a favorite whom she picked every time. It was no secret to anybody in the class, and this left every student feeling like they were loved less than our teacher’s favorite.

Today’s verse begins with a call to all Christians to live a life without favoritism. James, first, notes the obvious: It is easier to pay more attention to the one who is rich than the one who is poor.  James, then, radically reframes our perspective by pointing out that God did not show favoritism with us; instead, God chose sinners like us to be rich in faith that we may inherit the Kingdom of God forever. While we were broken and rejected, “He lifted [us] up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay; He set [our] feet upon a rock, and made [our] footsteps firm” (Ps 40:2). When we recognize we are recipients of this amazing love and grace, our response should be to love all our neighbors without partiality as well. 

The favoritism James has in mind may be extended to the kinds that seep into all areas of life. We see favoritism in the workplace when the colleagues who have more degrees getting the choice assignments; in schools with the kids from affluent homes having more friends; in the church with the people who are more gifted getting all the attention; and in politics with those who belong to a particular race getting preferential treatments.  Favoritism can be as seemingly insignificant as school labels to as big as racism, but as James reveals that partiality is an active rebellion against God’s commands to love others as ourselves. 

Let’s take some time today to reflect on the various ways that we may have engaged in favoritism. As we go in repentance for the ways that we may have failed to love others the way God loves us, let us be reminded that God did not discriminate against us but brought us into a life of faith.  

Prayer: God I thank You for your love that brought me out of the miry clay to be set upon a rock. I ask for Your forgiveness in the ways I have participated in favoritism. Help me to love all my neighbors as myself without partiality. In Jesus name. Amen

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 13 & Haggai 1

complete by our actions. We are called to more than a life of belief, but a life where all that we do reflects the hope and faith that we have in a God who cares about all the needs of a person – physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Let us be people whose faith is made complete by our faith and actions today!

Prayer: God I thank you that your work on the cross has sanctified me once and for all. Help me to live a life of not just faith, but a life with faith and deeds. And help me to be a beacon of light to others in all of their needs. In Jesus name. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Ecclesiastes 6

January 30, Friday

REPOST  Today’s AMI Devotional, originally posted on April 26, 2019, is provided by Esther Shin. Esther served as a staff at Tapestry Church in Los Angeles for many years.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Only You, Lord”

2 Corinthians 4:1-6

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God,we do not lose heart.But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practicecunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Many of us reading these devotionals either are serving or have served in different contexts within the church. As it is now close to hitting the two-year mark for my time on staff at Tapestry, I’ve been reflecting heavily on my own heart of service for the church. Oftentimes, I’ve realized that when I don’t heed the biblical charges on how to approach ministry, I am not beautifying the bride but rather disheartening the disciple.

In this passage, we can learn about what it means to serve and minister well. First, Apostle Paul exhorts the believers to understand their privilege in being able to participate in the ministry of reconciliation. Paul knew far too well, given his back story, that God IN HIS MERCY chose to use Paul for the glory of Christ. Thus, he was reminding the Corinthians that in the same way, it was the plain mercy of God that allowed them to also partake. I know my heart is postured correctly when it is filled with joy because I realize the sobering truth that I am not required to serve but I get to serve. It humbles me to know that God mercifully chooses someone like me to be a part of His glorious ministry.

Second, because we understand the privilege of being able to participate in God’s ministry, we know to whom we are to be held accountable. We ought to be genuine and conscientious, PRIMARILY before God and only then SECONDARILY to man. Oftentimes I am inclined to serve out of the fear of man. But serving God should begin with understanding that we are called to be faithful to Him and to the gospel truth. We find immense freedom and no need to perform when we are honest before the Lord. We need to ask the Lord to continue to search us, to make known our intentions so that there be no false way in us. Only then can others around us see who Christ is through us.

Finally, Paul reminds us that we are called to be bearers of light because we’ve been changed and transformed by the light Christ has shone upon us. Even in our churches, we see so often how the “god of the world” tries so hard to deceive and discourage as we see people falling to depression and wrestling with their identity. But once we’ve received the light, we have the power to drive out all darkness as we minister. We don’t need to question the power of Christ in us through which we can walk with others out of their own darkness and into the light.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for allowing us to partake in Your ministry and serve your bride. We recognize that we serve because you’ve brought us out of darkness into the light and we want to see others experience the same love. Lord, in our service, help us to be humble, help us to be genuine before You, and help us to be remain steadfast as we fix our eyes on You.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 12

Lunch Break Study  

Read Revelation 19:6-8: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

Questions to Consider

1. How does the Bride prepare herself for her marriage to the Lamb?

2. Do your deeds help to beautify the bride? Do you understand that you are the saint?

3. What are tangible ways you would like to help clothe the Bride in fine linen?

Notes

1. She actively seeks to be readied and made beautiful for the wedding day. It isn’t a passive thing but one that requires intentionality. We, as the church, must always be active and alert as to bring heaven down to earth in order to make way for the second coming of the Lamb of God — King Jesus.

2. As a follower of Christ and as a saint, our deeds truly matter in beautifying the bride. We seek to serve in a way that allows for the bride to be made more and more beautiful and for others to be able to come and be part of the wedding day.

3. There are so many things we are called to do that are considered righteous before the Lord. Giving to the poor, loving on the widow and the orphan, caring for the sick can all be tangible ways to make the Bride beautiful. Encouraging your brother or sister to walk in holiness, extending hospitality to others, praying for those who are discouraged are also tangible ways to serve.

Evening Reflection

In light of the devotional thoughts on service, where do you feel like you stand in regard to service? Are you healthy in having the right posture in service? Do you feel privileged and humbled by God entrusting his ministry into your hands? Are you serving as a saint of God?

January 29, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on May 23, 2019, is provided by Jennifer Kim. Jennifer served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Day and Night, Night and Day, Let Incense Arise”

Exodus 30:1-10

“Make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense. 2 It is to be square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high—its horns of one piece with it.3 Overlay the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it. 4 Make two gold rings for the altar below the molding—two on each of the opposite sides—to hold the poles used to carry it. 5 Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 6 Put the altar in front of the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law—before the atonement cover that is over the tablets of the covenant law—where I will meet with you. 7 “Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. 8 He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the Lord for the generations to come. 9 Do not offer on this altar any other incense or any burnt offering or grain offering, and do not pour a drink offering on it. 10 Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on its horns. This annual atonement must be made with the blood of the atoning sin offering for the generations to come. It is most holy to the Lord.”

One of my favorite worship songs came out in 2012 titled, “Worthy of it All”.  The lyrics begin with a declaration to God that “all the saint and angels, they bow before Your throne.  All the elders cast their crowns before the Lamb of God.”  And as the song reaches the chorus it gives the reasoning to this declaration, because “You are worthy of it all, Jesus.  For from you are all things and to you are all things. You deserve the glory.”  What a beautiful picture that captures who God is and what He has done for us.  But the song doesn’t just end there.  As we hit the bridge, the song repeats one simple line, “Day and night, night and day, let incense arise!”  To understand the imagery of incense we must turn to Scripture, which reveals that incense often times signifies the prayers lifted to God as a sweet aroma of thanksgiving and praise.  In light of this, the song comes together in a new way.  Not only must we recognize God is worthy of it all—because for from him and to him are all things—but we must respond to this truth by lifting up prayers day and night, night and day as a response of thanksgiving to his gift of grace.

Today’s passage discusses the altar of incense that it to be built and placed near the ark of the testimony where God will meet with his people (v.6).  And God tells Aaron to burn incense every morning and every night so that there will be a “perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations” (v.9).  As we recognize the gift of atonement by God’s grace, evidenced in Exodus 29, our response must be to give regular prayers before the altar of incense.  

I know that many Christians struggle with the idea of praying to a holy God wondering if they can approach God with their requests in light of all the things they’ve done.  However, we must remember that God’s gift of grace settled all of that on the cross so that we may approach Him.  We do not pray to be in good standing with Him, but we pray as a response of thanksgiving for His ultimate sacrifice.  Through this we can now freely go to the Father with our requests, worries, and praises that they may arise day and night, night and day.  Today take some time to reflect on your prayer life.  Do you pray to get in right standing with God?  Or are you living in grace and truth of God’s gift to you?  Remember this is a free gift, and as you receive this gift, may you lift up incense all the days of your life as an offering of thanksgiving to the Father who gave it all for you.

Prayer: God thank You for Your gift of grace on the cross.  Forgive me for the ways I have tried to earn this gift.  Help me to cultivate a life that lights incense of prayers day and night as a response to this incredible gift of grace. In Jesus name. Amen

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 11

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 86:1-13: Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
2 Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God; 3 have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long. 4 Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you. 5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. 6 Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. 7 When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me. 8 Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. 9 All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name. 10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. 11 Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. 12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. 13 For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead.

Questions to Consider

  • Why does King David petition to God (v.1)?
  • After King David gives his reasoning for his prayer, what does he do for the rest of the chapter?
  • What is an area in your life that you need God to teach you His ways in order that you may live with an undivided heart fearing His name?

Notes

  • David prays to God because he is poor and needy.
  • He states the attributes of God’s character and who he knows God to be (v.2-10). He then asks God to teach him His ways (v.11)
  • Personal.

Evening Reflection

Take some time to reflect on your day.  Were you able to lift prayers up to the Lord throughout your day? Or were you caught up in the busyness of life?  Take some time today to lift a prayer of thanksgiving for the work He has done, for the provision He provided today, and for the work He will continue to do. 

January 28, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional QT, originally posted on February 20, 2019, is provided by Pastor Shan Gian. Shan leads Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Persevering through futility”

Exodus 5:22-23

Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? 23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.”

William Wilberforce was one of the greatest social reformers in history.  As a prominent member of the British Parliament, Wilberforce fought for the abolition of slavery in the British Empire.  Already a member of Parliament, he became a follower of Jesus in 1784; and early in his walk with the God, it became clear to Wilberforce that God was calling him to be an advocate of bringing freedom to hundreds of thousands of slaves living under dire oppression.  

Now, we might think that, because Wilberforce was a follower of Jesus and had a clear calling from God, his success would’ve been a given; however, history shows us a very different picture.  In 1789, Wilberforce introduced anti-slavery resolutions twelve separate times, but all of them failed to even reach a vote to the general assembly.  He continued to push forward anti-slavery bills in 1791, 1792, 1793, 1797, 1798, 1799, 1804, and 1805, and each time the bills were defeated.  If anyone could understand what Moses was going through in Exodus 5, it would’ve been William Wilberforce.

Moses had a relationship with God and an even clearer calling from the LORD to be the leader of this abolitionist movement in Egypt.  Thus, Moses boldly goes to Pharaoh and asks for the freedom of God’s people; but instead of victory, he faces failure.  Perhaps Moses thought that his calling from God meant immediate victory since, after this initial encounter with Pharaoh and subsequent failure, Moses is distraught, complaining to God that his effort was futile and the circumstances worsened.  

Like Moses and Wilberforce, futility is something we all experience, especially if we strive do the work God has called us to do.  There is that friend we keep on talking to about the same issues repeatedly, or that family member we keep on praying for with no sign of fruit; or it’s those social justice issues we want to see righted in our cities that only seem to get worse.  We feel this calling from God to follow Him and do His kingdom work, but there will be times when our efforts feel futile.  

In those times where our efforts feel futile, we must persevere.  But we don’t persevere because we’re stubborn.  Nevertheless, we ought to persevere because when we do, we will see and experience the faithful work of God in our lives.  In this moment, Moses could only see the failure of that temporary moment.  What he could not see was that, as he persevered in what God called him to do, freedom would come to God’s people.  It was not immediate, but it was inevitable because God was working through Moses’ work.  Let us press on and keep on striving to do the work of God.

**Note:  Because of Wilberforce’s effort, British Parliament fully abolished slavery in 1833 and he subsequently passaged away 3 days later.

Prayer: Jesus, give me faith to trust that You are working through me even when I cannot see it.  I pray that You will give me strength to persevere and keep on doing the good work that You have called me to do. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 10

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 13:18-21: He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” 20 And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”

Questions to Consider

  • What do we learn about the true nature of kingdom of God from these parables?
  • If we understand that the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed and leaven, how then should we think about setbacks or futility in ministry?

Notes

  • For the parable of the mustard seed, Jesus’ emphasis is that the kingdom of God would start in a small and unassuming way since a mustard seed is so incredibly tiny; but over time, it grows and becomes large like a tree.  As for the parable of the leaven, it’s important to recognize that leaven works invisibly.  It is “hidden” in a large amount of flour and dough, but, even though you cannot see it, over time it grows and expands.  Put together, these two parables show us that the kingdom of God often grows in small and hidden ways; sometimes even we, as children of God, cannot recognize the potential of the small acts of faith or discern how the work of the kingdom is having an effect.
  • When we face setbacks or futility, we can easily think that the works of ministry we do are not having an effect.  However, if we recognize that the work of the kingdom of God can be small and unassuming, and even hidden at times, we should persevere and trust that God will work through us for his kingdom.

Evening Reflection

It’s easy to get discouraged when it comes to serving God.  It may seem like what we’re doing isn’t having any effect.  Tonight, pray that God will open your eyes to see what He is doing and ask Him for strength to persevere.  

January 27, Tuesday

REPOST  Today’s AMI Devotional—originally posted on February 26, 2019—is shared by Pastor Mark, who currently pastors a site church of Radiance Christian Church in the East Bay near San Francisco. Please remember him and his churchplanting team in your prayers.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Great Mystery of God”

Exodus 7:1-7 (ESV)

And the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. 2 You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land. 3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. 5 The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.” 6 Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the Lord commanded them. 7 Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh. 

When I first became a Christian, this passage gave me a lot of trouble because it seemed on the surface as if God took away Pharaoh’s freedom of choice by hardening his heart.  How was it possible to blame Pharaoh for his wrongdoing if God was actively making him resistant to making the right choice?  I looked into classic Calvinism which taught that God predestined both who would be saved and those that would reject Him.  Clearly, Pharaoh had not been elected to salvation.  Initially, that seemed to solve this problem but it also seemed to paint a very stark view of God.  Cognitively this made sense but my heart was still unsettled. 

In the end, I came to the conclusion that the intersection of man’s freedom and God’s sovereignty is one of life’s great mysteries.  It is hard to avoid the theological truth that God creates individuals with the foreknowledge that some will be saved and others will harden their hearts towards him.  However, to say that God does not love those who will ultimately reject him is contrary to the witness of Scripture.  On the way to the cross, Jesus pleaded for the Father to forgive the ignorance of those who were rejecting Him.  I can’t imagine this being an empty gesture by the Son of God.  

Over the years, what has given me comfort in accepting difficult passages like this is knowing the heart and character of our God who does not want any to perish but all to have everlasting life.  Knowing that this is God’s desire is sufficient enough for me.  

Prayer: Lord, I confess that there are certain things that are too weighty for me to understand.  Indeed, the secret things belong to the Lord our God but the things that are revealed belong to us forever.  Help me to trust in your goodness and love and to share that with both believer and non-believers.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 9

Lunch Break Study

Romans 9:14-24 (ESV): What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. 19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?

Questions to Consider

1. For what purpose was Pharaoh created?   

2. What gives God the right to create people for different purposes?

3. What is God’s attitude towards the objects of His wrath?

Notes

1. We are told that the purpose of Pharaoh’s life was to display God’s power in the life of Moses so that His name would be proclaimed throughout the world. God took the wickedness of Pharaoh and turned it into an opportunity for his glory to be revealed.  

2. God is likened to a potter who has the right to shape clay into whatever he chooses. There will be some vessels that are used for common things while other vessels that will be used for noble purposes.  As believers, we are encouraged by the fact that we have been for a noble reason.     

3. We read that God endures with great patience the objects of wrath.  This is clearly because of his grace and compassion towards them.  As we read in Ezekiel 33:11 – “As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live, turn back, turn back from you evil ways; for why will you die.         

Evening Reflection

A positive spin on the doctrine of election is that we can be sure that people can be saved because God has already chosen them.  This should give us the confidence to share our faith with the lost because we know that God is already working for their salvation.  Pray for the unbelievers around you so that God would give you an opportunity to share the gospel.  

January 26, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional QT, originally posted on November 25, 2019, is provided by Pastor Shan Gian. Shan leads Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Who Is the LORD?” 

Exodus 5:1-2

Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’” 2 But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” 

As a parent, one of the most fun and randomly joyful moments/phases is when I would give my son a dirty napkin (or something else) saying, “Tyler can you put this in the trash?” and exuberantly and joyfully he would exclaim, “OK Daddy!”  And then he would take the dirty napkin, and jubilantly gallop to the trash can, open the trash can, and throw that napkin in, and come back to me as if he had done the greatest thing ever.  Such obedient behavior from my son can, of course, be attributed to me and my wife’s superior parenting skills and my commanding and authoritative presence.

But much to my surprise, my skill as a parent and my authority don’t work with other kids.  When I go to other kids and say, “Hey, you kid, put this napkin in the trash!” they don’t listen to me.  Why is that?  Because if I were to do that, each kid would look at me and think or say, “Who are you?  Who are you to tell me what to do?”

In Exodus, Moses appeals to Pharaoh, asking for the freedom of the Lord’s people, and Pharaoh replies, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go?”  What Pharaoh says to Moses—and ultimately God—is ”Who are you to tell me what to do?”  He isn’t willing to listen to God and set his people free because he does not know God.

As followers of Jesus, one of our desires is to see people listen and obey the Lord.   And we especially would love to see people in positions of power, working to bring freedom and justice to this world.  It is a worthy cause for us to fight to see greater righteousness and justice in our world today.  However, realistically, in order for those in power to follows God’s way, they must know God first.  The only reason my son is willing to listen to me is because he knows that I am his father; whereas, other kids are not willing to listen to me because I am assuredly not their father.  In a similar way, we must pray that our friends and neighbors, and even those in power, will know the Lord because if they know the Lord, they will listen to His voice.  And more importantly, let us be people who seek to know the Lord and follow Him.  

Prayer: God, I pray that I will know You this day.  Help me to know and follow Your ways.  I pray that through me and through Your body that the world will know You and follow You.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Nehemiah 8

Lunch Break Study

Read John 10:1-5: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 

Questions to Consider

  • How do the sheep know who to follow?
  • What do the thief and stranger represent in this passage?
  • How do we know Jesus as our Shepherd?

Notes

  • The sheep recognize the voice of the shepherd, so it means that they are accustomed to hearing his voice.  And not only do the sheep recognize the voice of the shepherd, but the shepherd knows each sheep by name.  The shepherd personally knows his sheep, not just as a flock, but individually as well.
  • Jesus may be hinting at false messiahs that came before Him, or He could be talking about the religious leaders of the time, or even Satan himself; but regardless of who Jesus is talking about directly, for our lives, we can understand the thieves and strangers to be anyone or anything that has a voice that could lead us away from our Shepherd.
  • Just like the sheep in the metaphor Jesus gives, we must make it a habit to listen for Jesus’ voice, especially through prayer, the Bible, and the body of Christ.  We don’t usually learn to hear His voice all of a sudden in a holy moment; instead, we must grow and learn to do so consistently.  And we know we can grow in this since Jesus knows us personally and wants to speak to us.

Evening Reflection

The culture and society that we are living in is not conducive for us to hear and follow the voice of God, so we must be intentional and vigilant about spending time with Jesus and hearing His voice.  Spend some time in silence and solitude, and listen for His voice.  And then pray that others can come to hear His voice as well.

January 25, Sunday

REPOST  Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on November 25, 2018, is provided by Jennifer Kim. Jennifer served faithfully as a staff in multiple AMI churches in the past.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“It Must Be Faith with Deeds”

James 2:14-26

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

When I decided to go on one-year missions to Shanghai in 2013, I shared the news with my non-Christian brother. His immediate response to what was supposed to be an exciting news was, “Don’t you think it’s better to provide education and service to people in need than organized religion?” Although his response hurt and frustrated me, I realize now that his question has some merit. What can religion do for the one who is sick, starving or without any basic needs met? Of course, they may be able to have a relationship with God and go to heaven, but is that what Christianity is all about? Does the God of love only care about salvation and not the earthly needs of His children?

When we look at the Bible, we can see that God is not reticent of people’s needs. Instead, we see God’s providential hand all throughout Israel’s journey from slavery into the promised land; we see Jesus’ heart to heal the brokenhearted in the story of Samaritan women; and we see Jesus feeding people rather than sending them away. Luke 4:18 sums up Jesus’ ministry as more than a proclamation of spiritual salvation, but a holistic ministry that brings deliverance to the captives, healing to the sick, and release for the oppressed.

The Christian faith is one that goes beyond a belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It is a faith that is put to the test by our actions where faith and deeds meet to reflect the life of Christ. James calls it foolish to believe that you can have one without the other; in fact, Satan even believes in God, yet his faith is not credited to him as righteousness because his actions (or lack thereof) do not reflect a true salvific faith. 

It is no different with us.  To live an active life of faith we are called to respond with our deeds. While the greatest moment in our relationship with God is when we come to faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ who saves a sinner like us, James shows us that our faith is made complete by our actions. That is, we are called to more than a life of belief, but a life where all that we do reflects the hope and faith that we have in a God who cares about all the needs of a person – physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Therefore, let us be people whose faith is made complete by our faith and actions today!

Prayer: God I thank You that your work on the cross has sanctified me once and for all. Help me to live a life of not just faith, but a life with faith and deeds. And help me to be a beacon of light to others in all of their needs. In Jesus name. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 7

January 24, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was first posted on January 24, 2018.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“It’s Gettin’ Tense In Here”

Acts 18:24-28 (NET Bible)

Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, arrived in Ephesus. He was an eloquent speaker, well-versed in the scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and with great enthusiasm he spoke and taught accurately the facts about Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak out fearlessly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately. 27 When Apollos wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he assisted greatly those who had believed by grace, 28 for he refuted the Jews vigorously in public debate, demonstrating from the scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.

Tensions are high these days—and with good reason. People are fed up with the way things are. Racist, classist, sexist, xenophobic and discriminatory ideologies have heartbreaking effects on so many lives and absolutely should be uprooted and dismantled. And right now there are minoritized communities across the country ready with shovel and sledgehammer to do just that. So, things are tense. 

These same ails are present in the Church (and if they’re not present in your church, please hear this in love; it’s likely because your church is too insulated to be effective or you’re not listening). When we join the family of God, we bring with us our bigotry and bias, our wounds and scars, to a way of life that requires that we get really close in intimacy and interdependence—a perfect recipe for tension. And it gets personal when ideologies attached to our religion and faith are challenged. So, things can get even more tense.  

If we are committed to the mission of God and humbly follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we WILL sense tension (in one relationship or another, in one space or another), and we WILL be led to speak and share God’s truth in love. In the passage above, Priscilla and Aquila confront Apollos to correct errors in his understanding of God’s truth. We don’t know the what (the content of Apollos’s teaching or their correction), but we do know the how—when Priscilla and Aquila sensed tension between Apollos’s teaching and God’s truth, “they took him aside and explained the way of God to him.” It seems simple, but this is the hard work of challenging and changing our broken world. 

While content matters immensely (what is God’s truth about today’s most pressing issues), the way we go about speaking God’s truth is also critical. In the age of social media and the internet, we must take care not to confuse the cowardice that often lurks in public discourse with the courage it takes to participate in God’s transformation of hearts. When we talk about instead of to, withdraw instead of confront, condemn instead of listen, even when we pray about instead of for, we fail.  While public platforms are useful, we only have the right to speak and the resources to be effective in those spaces when we are doing the hard work in our local communities of binding our lives to those with whom we may disagree in face-to-face confrontation, day-in and day-out conversation, and life on life relationships. 

Truth is often offensive. People were wildly offended when Jesus spoke truth to power and challenged the way things had always been done. But it was His tangible love to those around Him that opened their hearts to the truth and ultimately saved their souls. 

Prayer: Gracious God, please grant me the courage to participate in Your transforming work in the lives of the people around me. Open my eyes to see what is broken and open my heart to know and speak Your truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 5-6