April 11, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provide by Pastor Peter Yoon of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego, was first posted on April 6, 2017.  Peter is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Your Labor is NOT in Vain”

1 Cor. 15:58

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Dear co-laborer in the Lord, 

 As you’ve been serving the Lord over the years, most definitely you’ve experienced joy, passion, growth, and a sense of satisfaction. As a pastor, I love hearing from our church members that “so-and-so” just accepted Christ. The news brings so many people so much joy. At the same time, it’s very likely you’ve also had a fair share of fatigue, disappointment, failure, perhaps even betrayal. I’m sure you are battling against the cynical spirit that wants to devour you. That cynicism wants you to buffer yourself from taking risks once again, actively serving the Lord’s purposes. 

I want you to know that Paul could have been cynical in his dealing with the Corinthian church. The church where he had spent more than a year ministering and teaching had become divisive, spiritually proud and abusive, stingy, flat out questioning Paul’s legitimacy of leadership, and making a mockery of the sacred Lord’s Supper, just to name a few of its dysfunctions. I suppose if anyone deserved to be cynical, it was Paul. Yet, this servant of God remained just as devoted to the gospel and to the Corinthian family of God as he had been on day one. The key: Paul understood that his labor in the Lord was not in vain. It’s never in vain. 

Let Paul’s letter be an encouragement to you today. Allow his words to hold you steadfast. Let the words of Paul reaffirm to your vulnerable heart that your labor is not in vain. Whether you’ve been showing hospitality, serving young children, tirelessly setting up for worship services and ministry events, coordinating many of the unseen details in the background, teaching God’s word faithfully, laboring in prayer, ministering the sacraments, whatever you have been doing, remember that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Continue to give yourself fully to the work of the Lord. 

I know that soon you will receive praise: “Well done, good and faithful servant…Come and share the Master’s happiness.” 

Sincerely, 

Your co-laborer.

Prayer: Dear Lord, as I serve You, help me to serve You with a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. Guard my heart from an attitude of cynicism. In Your Name, Amen! 

Bible Reading for Today: Hosea 12

Lunch Break Study  

Read Matt 28:16-20: Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Questions to Consider

  1. What is surprising about some of the disciples’ responses to Jesus? 
  2. There are four verbs in the Great Commission (vv. 19-20): 1) go, 2) make disciples, 3) baptizing, and 4) teaching. Of these four verbs, only one of them in the Greek takes the imperative (command) form. Which do you think is the main verb in Jesus’ command?   
  3. In what ways are you growing in the disciple-making process? Are you being discipled? Are you helping another person grow as a disciple of Jesus? 

Notes

  1. Strangely, some doubted. While we do not know the exact nature of this doubt, what is clear is that the majority did worship Him. Matthew firmly believes this was the right reaction. 
  2. Make disciples. Making disciples is the great imperative (command) of the Great Commission. 
  3. “Disciple” means not just head-learners, not just heart-learners, but life-learners (N.T. Wright).

Evening Reflection

Spend some time thanking the Lord for the ministry opportunity that’s been given to you. While ministry can be burdensome at times, it is always a privilege. 

April 10, Wednesday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on Mary 31, 2017, is provided by Joanna Tzen, a friend of AMI, who attended and served at Grace Covenant Church (UC) for a long time. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Falling Back”

Hebrews 9:23 

It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 

Small children always seem to want to do what their parents are doing, following them into the kitchen or the yard; that’s why toy manufacturers make kitchen and tool play sets. My friends tell me that their toddlers will mimic cleaning up or beg to help out mom and dad in the kitchen counter—even if they’re not all that helpful.

This passage in Hebrews addresses how the Israelites worshipped a shadow or a copy of reality through the tabernacle and the practices within. The tabernacle was a place set aside for holy worship as ordained by the Lord (Exodus 40). It was the place where Moses met God; and for generations this was the holy and set apart place where the Lord met with His people. However, the author of Hebrews tells us Jesus as the Son of God was allowed to enter directly into God’s presence to intercede or make a way for us. Thus, the tabernacle and the practices are no longer needed for atonement, since Jesus is the final sacrifice—no atonement can compare and no atonement is needed again. Jesus’ sacrifice allows us to come into God’s presence as children of God, since Jesus’ blood is now applied to us and we can approach God with Jesus’ righteousness.

Yet, the Christian Jews—the audience of the book of Hebrews—were tempted to fall back into the sacrificial system. We might ask, “Why would they go back and settle for a copy when the reality had already come?” But even today, many of us can fall back into practices that we think can earn our salvation. We may not be returning to a physical tabernacle and the practices within, but we can return to other things in hopes it will bring salvation; it can be our work, school, or even church, performance. We may not realize that we’ve been unconsciously attributing our worth to our performance in these areas, instead of depending on salvation that comes from the finished work on the cross. What practices do you find yourself falling back into instead of resting in Jesus?

Prayer: Lord, show me the areas where I have returned to my ways in the past of self-sufficiency. Help me to trust You because of who You are—a gracious, compassionate and just God. I give you lordship of these areas and know that You are in control. The gospel shows me You are a good and loving Father who gave Your one and only Son for me. I trust in the sufficiency of Jesus’ blood and sacrifice and rejoice in His resurrection that gives me new life and a new identity as a child of God. Amen.”

Bible Reading for Today: Hosea 11

Lunch Break Study

Read Isaiah 30:15: This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.16 You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’ Therefore you will flee! You said, ‘We will ride off on swift horses.’ Therefore your pursuers will be swift!

Questions to consider

  1. What does this passage say is the source of salvation and strength?
  2. How do the Israelites respond to what God says in v.16?
  3. Verse 18 states: “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” What does this tell you about God’s character?”

Notes

  1. Repentance and rest is the source of salvation; quietness and trust is the source of strength.
  2. Instead of trusting in the Lord by being quiet and hearing from the Him, they make their own plans in human wisdom to flee.
  3. God is gracious, compassionate, just and desires to bless us. He is not a vengeful God, giving us what we deserve—even when we disobey. He welcomes us with grace, even after our mistakes. God’s character is trustworthy.

Evening Reflection

Meditate on God’s character in quietness and trust. Thank Him for being a Father who longs to be gracious to you! Romans 8:32: “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things.”

April 9, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on May 23, 2017, is provided by Phillip Chen who is associate pastor at Kairos Christian Church in San Diego. Phil is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Our Eternal God”

Revelation 1:4-8 (ESV):

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

When I was in college, I loved to plan for the future. Rather than just thinking about it, I took it to another level: I made an Excel sheet with major milestones that I would accomplish as I reached certain ages—such as when I would get married and when I would have my first child. Whereas most people try to have a 5-year plan or a 10-year plan, I decided to—just for fun—plan the rest of my life out. I look back and chuckle at my naïve and immature self because I understand now that I can’t plan out my life so neatly— it won’t ever work out the way I plan it. As I came to this realization, another realization came to mind – God has a plan, and His plan always comes to fruition.

 Ithink we often forget that God is eternal, and with His eternal nature, there is an eternal plan. He is not subject to random chance—things don’t happen sporadically without purpose. During the time when apostle John and many Christians were undergoing intense persecution, I’m sure they often wondered, Is there a purpose, is there a reason for all of this suffering? Is there hope for the future?

When we stop to think about the eternal nature of God, what significance should that have in our lives? Personally, I am reminded that we are all part of something bigger than ourselves; and that I am a minor character in a story that is still continuing to unfold in the way that the Author of this story has determined.  It’s easy for us to forget that there is a plan set in motion from the beginning. Sometimes we just feel like life is the way it is because it’s by random chance or by coincidence, thinking that we do things as a reaction to others and circumstances. Yet we must remember that the eternal nature of our God (who is not created but the Creator) means that He has dominion and control over all. There is a God-ordained progression that human history is following: Things aren’t just happening randomly, but things are falling into place. Political leaders are not vying for power and bringing empires into prominence, but God’s plans and purposes are coming into place.

As we read through the book of Revelation, may we take comfort in the fact that our God is an eternal God. Not only has He shown us what has happened from the beginning, but He has told us what will happen in the end. As we go through joyful seasons and painful seasons, we can be rest assured that He has promised a wonderful end. He will make all things new. He will wipe away every tear. He will remove every form of mourning, crying, and pain. Sin and death shall be no more!

Prayer: Father God, though life may seem so volatile at times, thank You that You have reassured us that You are sovereign. We might not understand what You are doing at times, but we trust in your faithfulness and in your goodness. Thank you that you have already promised that you will be making all things new. Thank you for the hope that we have in you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Hosea 10

Lunch Break Study

Read Job 38:4-7 (ESV): Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, 7 when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?                            **For better context, read Job 38-41

Question to Consider

1. What is the context of this passage?

2. How does God choose to respond to Job?

3. What is your response as you think of God’s eternal nature?

Notes

1. Job has been going through intense suffering—losing all of his wealth, his relationships, and his health. He questions why God allows this evil to happen in his life, but God is silent for most of this book, until the very end when He responds to Job.

2. God never answers why all of this happened has to Job, but He does remind Job that He is eternal and His ways are higher than Job’s ways, His thoughts are higher than Job’s thoughts. He doesn’t explain Himself, but rather points Job to the understanding of God’s eternal nature.

3. Personal reflection.

Evening Reflection

When was the last time you thought about how your life fits into God’s plan, rather than how your life fits into your own plans? Tonight, spend some time asking God how you are to fit into His eternal plan.

April 8, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on May 15, 2017, is provided by Pastor Barry Kang, who heads Symphony Church in Boston.  Barry is a graduate of Stanford University (B.S.), Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and Gordon Conwell Seminary (D.Min.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Divine Jealousy”

2 Corinthians 11:1-4

I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! 2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.

Early in our marriage, Sunny would sometimes forget to wear her wedding ring.  One time, she was in a grocery store shopping for groceries, when a good looking man approached her saying, “Excuse me, you look like you know how to cook.”  She realized that this was a very sweet but clumsy pick-up line.  As she told me this story afterwards, we laughed about the incident.  I could laugh because Sunny had given me little reason to actually be jealous.  I also sternly told her to wear her wedding ring from that time on!

On the other hand, the Corinthian church was driving Paul crazy.  Paul was the planter of the church in Corinth (see Acts 18).  He was not making an idle boast when he wrote that he “betrothed [them] to one husband.”  His labor led to their relationship with Christ, and now he was horrified to see that they were being led astray, seduced by “super-apostles” (v.5) and “false apostles” (v.13). He calls this emotion a “divine jealousy.”  Paul wasn’t jealous because he was being possessive, but because of his great love for the church in Corinth and his great love for God.   

And yet, as much angst as Paul was feeling, how much more does God hate it when we are seduced away from the true abundant life with Him?  Paul didn’t marry the church, he married the church to God!  We are the bride of Christ.  The flip-side of God’s great love for us is our capacity to bring Him pain when we embark upon a path of destruction.  As we look deeper into the heart of the Bridegroom, let us choose to bring Him joy instead!

Prayer:  Lord, forgive us when we bring great pain to You by turning away from Your love and ways.  Help us to have a sense of Your divine jealousy, that it would change our hearts for You and our hearts for one another.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Hosea 9 

LUNCH BREAK STUDY

Read Mark 12:28-31:  And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Questions to Consider

  1. According to Jesus, what is the most important commandment?
  2. Why do you think Jesus gave two commandments when asked what is the most important commandment?
  3. What would it look like in your life to love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with your mind and with all your strength?

Notes

  1. We have probably read about the great commandment many times—love God, love people. Yet, this commandment can feel cold and dry when we do not let our love for God and others flow from the knowledge that we are jealously loved by God.
  2. We call this the great commandment, not the great commandments, because truly, we cannot love God without also loving others, and we cannot love others without loving God. These two things are intimately tied together. Our passage from this morning shows the love Paul had for the Corinthians, a love that flowed from his love for God. Likewise, we are called to have a jealous love for others, just as we have for God. Loving God necessitates loving others.
  3. Basically, everything we do and everything within us should be about loving God— all thoughts, actions, emotions, ideas, plans, hopes, and dreams. All these things should be given as love and devotion to God. Remember, God loves us with all He has—even to the point of death on the cross. And now we love Him because He first loved us with a fierce, jealous love (1 John 4:19).

EVENING REFLECTION  

Spend some time this evening reflecting on the reality that God is jealous for you. The entire story of the Bible is about God yearning for us to know Him, to remember Him, and to come to Him. If there’s currently anything standing between you and God, lay it down. Come to Him and let His love bring you peace as you go to sleep tonight.

April 7, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Christine Li, was first posted on February 19, 2017. Christine, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Pauls and Timothys”

1 Corinthians 4:16-17 

Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

Once, at a family gathering, my brother and I were telling a story, when suddenly our relatives burst out laughing. Since we hadn’t been saying anything particularly funny, they had to explain why they laughed: “Just now, both you talked just like your dad—you gestured wildly with your hands!” He wasn’t present, but unbeknownst to us, we channeled his mannerisms so strongly that, at least for the moment, we were carbon copies of him to our relatives. 

Here, Paul takes advantage of a similar relationship; he plans to send Timothy, his disciple, to continue his work in the Corinthian church and to be a model for the church. Timothy was not only a student of Paul’s teaching; he was a student of Paul’s way of life. And because Paul invested so much into Timothy’s life, he was confident that Timothy would be a faithful representative, fully trained in all the things Paul wanted to impart.

As family in Christ, we too can have this type of influence on one another, and we should be actively partaking in this aspect of God’s work. We are meant to be Pauls for each other, intentionally meeting up with others and discipling them through our actions and lifestyle. We also are meant to be Timothys, learning from others and shaping our lives in alignment with those good examples.

The road to both discipleship relationships requires two things – first, we should ask God to govern over our lives so there is something good for others to take away. Second, we should ask Him for the means to actively engage with others so that we can be propelled towards Christ. 

When we go to church today, let’s be on the lookout, not just for general fellowship, but brothers and sisters who we can grow with and actively shape us. I believe that God is very much in favor of us making disciples of one another, and He will surely appoint brothers and sisters around us to help us. As we continue to learn things from one another, He will use us to become Pauls and Timothys for each another.

Prayer: Father, thank You for making Yourself known to us individually and that You have set good examples around us. Help me to be teachable and to learn from others; help me to propel others wisely and patiently around me, too. Teach us how to fulfill Your Great Commission by making disciples of all the nations. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Hosea 8

April 6, Saturday

REPOST  Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was first posted on February 11, 2017.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The Humble Circumstance of Our Calling”

1 Corinthians 1:26

Think about the circumstances of your call, brothers and sisters. Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were born to a privileged position.

A pastor recounted the following story:  

In 1994, two Christian missionaries answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics in a large orphanage. It was nearing Christmas and they decided to tell [the children] the story of Christmas. It would be the first time [they] had heard the story of the birth of Christ. When the story was finished, they gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger.

… It was all going smoothly until one of the missionaries sat down at a table to help a 6-year-old boy name Misha. When the missionary looked at the little boy’s manger, she [saw]not one, but two babies in the manger. She called for the translator to ask Misha why there were two babies in the manger. Misha began to repeat the story very seriously. He related the happenings accurately until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger. … He said: 

“And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don’t have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told him I couldn’t because I didn’t have a gift to give him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept him warm, that would be a good gift. So I asked Jesus, ‘If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?’ And Jesus told me, ‘If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me.’ So I got into the manger and then Jesus looked at me and he told me I could stay with him – for always.”

The longer I live as a Christian, the easier it is for me to forget the circumstances around which I was called by our precious Savior out of darkness and into the marvelous light. I love stories like the one above that in fresh way offer a renewed appreciation for the “circumstances of our calling.” Like a little orphaned child with nothing to give to Jesus, we were invited into close intimacy with the living God and given a home with Him in His family. Spend some time to remember when you first heard the gospel and the first time you made it your own.  

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your calling in my life – that above all things, You call me Your child. Help me to remember the humble and needy state in which You found me. May this renew my love and affections toward You and melt away the pride, self-righteousness, and even apathy that passing years can bring in the human heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Hosea 6-7

April 5, Friday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Doug Tritton, was first posted on April 21, 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

“God of All Comfort”

2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

I recall a few months ago, shortly after my daughter Audrey was born, there were some nights where nothing would comfort her: Try to get her to sleep? Didn’t work. Try to put her in the baby swing? Didn’t work. Bouncer? Again, nope. She kept crying and crying. The only thing that kept her from crying was holding her and pacing around the floor. In those moments, I felt defeated, like I was unable to comfort my own daughter.

Aren’t we like that sometimes? Not like the father, but like the crying baby? We complain and complain to God about this or that, wondering why He won’t answer our prayers. We can wonder in those moments if God even cares. But what does our passage for today tell us about God? He is “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort who comforts us in all our affliction.” Though, maybe, He won’t answer a specific prayer, we can be assured that He will always hold on to us – He will never let go. He will give us comfort, because He is the God of all comfort.

Today, come to God. Bring your requests – though he may not answer them right away – we can trust that He will comfort us. He will surround us with His presence and show His love to us. He is a faithful Father, One who holds onto us even as we cry, complain, and try to push Him away. He never lets go. That’s the love of our Father!

And with that love of the Father in us, let’s remember that we can comfort others: “We may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” So, while the comfort of God lifts us up, let’s then turn to lift others up with that same comfort.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You are the God of all comfort. So often do we complain and throw tantrums around You, but still You are faithful and will never leave us. Thank for Your unfailing, never-ceasing love and comfort for us. Give us today this comfort, as we go through the afflictions of life. We need Your loving presence in our lives. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Hosea 5

Lunch Break Study  

Read Matthew 11:28-30: 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Questions to Consider

  1. Who does Jesus invite to come to him? What does He promise them?
  2. How do we receive this rest from Jesus?
  3. How does Jesus describe life with Him?

Notes

  1. Verse 28 says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden.” Jesus invites those who weary, worn out from the world, those who are burnt out and stuck, and those are who just plain tired. To all who are struggling, Jesus says, “Come to me.” And what does He promise them? Rest – real spiritual rest. Not TV-binge-watching rest, but real, genuine soul-rest.
  2. Well, first off, we need to come to Him! But Jesus also says we need to take His yoke and learn from Him. What this means is that we need to learn to live life the way Jesus intended, because living life as Jesus intended will give us rest. This may seem counter-intuitive (isn’t Jesus’ way of life incredibly difficult??), but, in reality, Jesus’ way of life was the way humans were meant to live. Follow Jesus, live like Jesus, and we will find that we are living in a way that brings rest and peace to our souls.
  3. He says that it is easy! Again, this seems counter-intuitive, but as already mentioned, once we start living a life with God—the way God intended—we will find this more natural, in fact easier, than the competitive, unforgiving, stressful ways of life that the world pushes us to live.

Evening Reflection

Tonight, remembering that our Father in Heaven is the God of all comfort, let’s come to Him and rest in His loving presence. Try not to speak – no prayer requests, no grievances, no words – but just rest in His presence and receive His comfort. 

April 4, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on March 13, 2017, is provided by Pastor Jason Sato who, along with his wife Jessica and three young children, serves in Japan as an AMI missionary. Jason, a graduate of UC San Diego (BS) and Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div.), is currently planting a church in Tokyo. Please pray for this work.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Jew to Win Jews”

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (ESV)

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. [20] To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. [21] To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. [22] To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. [23] I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

When I was in junior high, my friends and I would rep “AzN PRiDe.”  I’m not entirely sure what random capitalization or spikey hair had to do with being Asian, but underneath it was a desire to find a group of people to identify with—or to put it another way, to be with people with whom I felt most comfortable.

Supposedly, we grow out of this adolescent desire but the evidence appears to indicate otherwise.  For instance, some say that Sunday morning is the most segregated time of the week in America.  Theologians and church planters discuss the Homogenous Unit Principle, which states that people like to become Christians among those like themselves.  But Paul has a decidedly different viewpoint, for he is interested in being with and even being like people who are different from him; that is, Paul willingly sets aside his culture to identify with others.  

Thus, it comes as a surprise when Paul declares, “To the Jews I became a Jew.”  

Wait a second—wasn’t Paul already a Jew?  According to Philippians 3:5, Paul is “a Hebrew of Hebrews”!   Before he met Jesus, Paul’s Jewishness was actually his greatest hindrance to believing in the Son of God.  Yet, Christ had transformed him so completely that being an Israelite is no longer his primary identity.  Paul does not need to find his identity in the cultural and religious customs of Israel.  He is a citizen of the coming Kingdom.  He is an heir with Christ; he is a child of God.

Certainly, Paul, continuing to value his heritage for Jesus, declared that salvation comes from the Jews.  He has a particular love for his Jewish brothers, even desiring to trade his own salvation for theirs (Rom. 9:3).  However, Paul’s culture is no longer an idol to be worshiped or a means to find belonging, but a tool to be used for a gospel purpose.

In Paul’s day, there were 200 million people in the world, of which about 100% were unreached (referring to those who never heard about Jesus and who will remain that way  unless a Christian crosses a culture to tell them).  He gladly utilized his cultural background or took on the patterns of another to share about Jesus more effectively.

In our day, there are over 7 billion people in the world, of which about 40% are unreached.  Incredible progress has been made, but still over 3 billion people have very limited access to the Good News of Jesus Christ.  If God’s people do not cross a culture, they will not hear of the only way of salvation.

As we go to the nations and as the nations come to us in our own cities, may our cultures be a Gospel tool and not a hindrance to believing, obeying, and sharing Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Father, I thank You that I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Everything about me was created with purpose and with great potential for bringing Your Son glory.  Use all that I am that all peoples may worship Jesus. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Hosea 4

Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 3:4b-11 (ESV): If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: [5] circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; [6] as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. [7] But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. [8] Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ [9] and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—[10] that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, [11] that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 

Question to Consider

  1. How could Paul boast in his background?
  2. Why does Paul willing count his impressive background as loss?
  3. How can Paul use his culture to spread the Good News?

Notes

  1. Paul has a prestigious lineage: he was trained by well-respected teachers; he was zealous in his defense of Judaism; he was meticulous in his adherence to the law.
  2. To gain Christ, that is, to know Jesus in His sufferings and in the power of His resurrection.
  3. Paul’s training and law-keeping commended him to fellow Jews. His knowledge of Scripture could be used to prove that Jesus is the Christ.  His zealous persecutions of believers and following transformation testified to the power and truth of Jesus.

Evening Reflection

Reflect upon your day.  How were you tempted to use your culture or background as a means to judge others or excuse your sin?  What opportunities did God give you to connect with others because of or in spite of differences in culture?  Pray for God to use all that you are to spread the name of Jesus.

April 3, Wednesday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on May 10, 2017, is provided by Emerson Lin. Emerson, who serves in E. Asia as a missionary, is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.).  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Spiritual War”

2 Corinthian 10:3-6

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete. 

In the 1984, my father immigrated to the United States from Taiwan with my mother, to study Computer Engineering at San Jose States University—he wanted a better life for his wife and his future children. So when my father became a United States citizen in 1985, he had to give up his Taiwanese citizenship. He explained to me that while becoming a citizen had its benefits, it was also very complicated: he had to learn everything that came with becoming a citizen such as jury duty, taxes, and different business policies. Additionally, he had to adhere to the laws and rules that came with becoming a new citizen.

In this passage, Paul explains to the Corinthians that they are in a spiritual war. However, this war is not fought through the standard means of Greek philosophy and reasoning; rather, as citizens of heaven, they must fight using a new method—the divine power of the gospel. 

Paul describes in verse 5, that this stronghold-destroying process must be done in two steps: First, we must “demolish philosophies and arguments that set themselves against the knowledge of God.” However, we do not demolish simply by using counter-reasoning, but through the power of the Holy Spirit. Second, we cannot simply destroy these strongholds, but “we must take every though captive and make it obedience to Christ.” After armies destroy a fortress, they take the enemies captive, preventing them from gathering again. In the same way, as the knowledge of God demolishes strongholds, we must make them obedient to Christ, so that these thoughts do not come back.

A common spiritual battle that we fight is in the area of evangelism. Many of us have opportunities to minister to family members, co-workers, and classmates. What kind of approach do you take when it comes to sharing the gospel? Do you rely on your knowledge and experiences, or do rely on the Holy Spirit to minister to co-workers and friends? 

In our society, knowledge and experience are highly regarded, putting a high premium on those who know a lot. We take this same standard and apply it to our Christian walk, especially in the area of evangelism. While apologetics and our personal experiences are important and needed, Paul reminds us that as citizens of heaven, this spiritual battle must be won through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for shedding Your blood for me. I know that I am no longer a citizen of this world, but a citizen of heaven. Therefore, the way I fight this spiritual battle is not through my own strength and reasoning, but through the power of Your Spirit. Help me to trust that You are working in those whom I am evangelizing to! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Hosea 3

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 20:May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. 2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. 3 May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings.[b]4 May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. 5 May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests. 6 Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. 8 They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. 9 Lord, give victory to the king! Answer us when we call!

Questions to Consider

  1. What do you notice about the psalmist’s transition from verse 1-5 and 6-9?
  2. Who does the Lord give victory to (vv. 8 and 7)?
  3. What will happen to those who trust in chariots and horses (vv. 6-8)?

Notes

  1. In verse 1-5, the psalmist repeats the word “may” to reveal that he hopes God can bless these situations. However, verse 6-9 transitions into promises that are for sure. 
  2. The Lord gives victory to those who are anointed (set apart) and to those who trust in Him.
  3. Those who trust in chariots and horses will be brought to their knees, meaning they will perish.

Evening Reflection

In light of today’s sharing, do you have co-workers, classmates, or family members whom you can evangelize to? Consider the ways you have evangelized in the past. What are some ways that you can rely on the power of the Holy Spirit more?

April 2, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 24, 2017.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Do Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God?”

John 3:16

 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 

After reading a story about Christian mission work in a Muslim country, a reader commented, “Since when did we consider the Muslims to be unbelievers?  They do not need to be converted because the Christians and Muslims believe and worship the same God.”  This person’s point isn’t entirely without merit, since both the Syrian Christians and Jews referred to God as Allah before the rise of Mohammed in the 6th century.  But upon a closer examination, because the original meaning attached to the name Allah underwent a dramatic makeover in the Koran, anyone who says that the Christians and Muslims worship the same God is either ignorant or condescending toward religion itself.  

The best way for me to show the difference is to take you back to a meeting in 1999, where I had an opportunity to share with an audience of about 100 people—equal number of Christians as well as Muslims.  I began the talk by saying that if I had an opportunity to be either Allah or the Christian God for a minute, I would want to be like Allah in a heartbeat.  I then read from the Koran where it says, “Obey Allah and Apostle.  If they give no heed, then, truly Allah does not love the unbelievers (3:32); “Allah does not love the evil-doers” (3:57).  I reasoned that since I, too, don’t love the people who don’t believe me, as well as those who do evil, I can readily relate to Allah.  

After taking a pause, however, I changed my tune, saying, “What I really needed before becoming a Christian, was a God who would’ve loved me even if I didn’t believe Him and was doing bad things.  And there is such a God—and that is the Christian God.”  I, then, read Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  Unlike Allah of the Koran, the God of the Bible “is kind to ungrateful and evil men” (Lk. 6:35). 

After the meeting, a Muslim man shared how he had never seen the difference quite like that.  No, he didn’t become a Christian that day, but I hope that he eventually placed his trust in Christ—the greatest expression of God’s love toward fickle mankind so undeserving of such amazing grace! 

Prayer: God, I exalt and worship You today.  Help me not to be intellectually lazy and naïve to the point of believing everything the media reports and what the academia spews out.  Clarify my thinking on Islam, so that I can present a cogent and sensible presentation of the gospel to the next Muslim I meet.  Amen.    

Bible Reading for Today: Hosea 2

Lunch Break Study 

Read Eph. 2:8-9 (NASB): For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 

Rom. 10:1-3: Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 

Questions to Consider

1. What is the main difference between salvation by grace through faith and the way the Jews  went about it?

2. If how the Jews went about to establish their own righteousness represents world religions—such as Islam and Buddhism—then what is the main difference between the latter and the Christian faith? 

3. What would you say to a Muslim who believes that he must keep the Five Pillars of Islam—confession (“there is no god but Allah and Mohammed is his prophet”), daily prayers, almsgiving (zakāt), pilgrimage to Mecca, and fasting—to be saved?

Notes

1. Whereas salvation by grace through faith requires no works contributed by the person desiring to be saved, the Jews tried to establish their own righteousness by keeping the moral laws as well as works of the law (circumcision, Sabbath keeping and eating kosher). 

2. Whereas the Christian faith is God’s attempt to save men, world religions are men’s attempt to save themselves through their own efforts. 

3. I would share that Jesus is not merely the second most important prophet, but He is, in fact, the Son of God.  Then I would tell him that Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross made his works (keeping the Five Pillars of Islam) unnecessary to be saved.

Evening Reflection

Do you have any Muslim friends or co-workers?  Have you ever tried to talk to them about God?  Of course, we need to establish a relationship before talking about such a serious matter like one’s faith; however, the first thing we need to do is to pray for them.  Even a gifted theologian and preacher like the apostle Paul asked his friends to pray for him, saying, “Whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (Eph. 6:19).  Would you begin praying for this Muslim individual so that you may have an opportunity to share the mystery of the gospel with him or her?