March 8, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provide by Pastor Peter Yoon of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego, was first posted on April 7, 2017.  Peter is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Emotionally Healthy Follower”

1 Cor. 16:10-11

 When Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. 11 No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.

I think almost everyone would agree that the role of a spiritual leader (e.g., pastor, small group leader, or ministry leader) is critical to God’s family. With this understanding, the topic of leadership has been studied in seminaries, churches, conferences, etc. We hold the view that the heathier the leader, the healthier the church or the small group. It is most likely with this assumption that the book Emotionally Healthy Leader has been read by hundreds and thousands of spiritual leaders. 

But could this inadvertently place too much pressure or perhaps all the pressure solely upon the leadership? 

I agree that it is absolutely important for the spiritual leader to grow in character, self-awareness, wisdom, and emotional and spiritual health in order to lead effectively. However, there is more. I’ve come to understand that good “followership” is just as crucial for a healthy body of Christ or a small group or a ministry. 

I believe Paul is encouraging the Corinthian church to display this character. He reminds the Corinthian believers to receive Timothy (a young, growing pastor) with the kind of reception so that he has nothing to fear. Timothy is not to be treated contemptuously, and when he departs, he is to leave in peace. Could you imagine what Timothy would have reported to Paul upon his return had this been carried through?   Could you imagine the effect you might have upon your leaders should he/she experience your support and encouragement rather than contempt?

I remember two of our church members asking one day if they could meet with me. When that happens, for some reason I expect something negative. Typically, I assume that there is a problem in the church that needs my attention. As I sat down with them, they asked, “Can we just spend some time praying for you?” So we spent some time as they ministered to me. Afterwards, I asked, “Is there anything else?” I assumed that since they opened up the meeting by first praying for me, whatever would come up next was going to be really bad. But that was it. There was no other agenda than to simply pray for me, their pastor. I was moved. 

Paul understood that it could have gone horribly for young Timothy. He asked for good followership. Timothy must have been moved by their reception and love. 

Prayer: Dear Lord, this morning I pray for my __________ (pastor, small group leader, ministry leader) and ask that you bless them with your love and your strength. If there is any contempt in my heart towards them, please forgive me and cleanse me. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 5

Lunch Break Study  

Read 2 Tim 1:15-18: You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. 18 May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.

Questions to Consider

  1. Having been deserted by “everyone” in the province of Asia, what do you suppose is going on in Paul’s mind? 
  2. What qualities does Onesiphorus show in these few verses? 
  3. What is the reward of Onesiphorus’ ministry to Paul?

Notes

  1. Paul must have felt like a colossal failure. He had spent a lot of time in the province of Asia, particularly in Ephesus. He had preached the gospel to them, taught them, lived alongside them, wept and laughed and prayed with them. They had been dear to him and he to them. And now he says they’ve turned away from him.
  2. Onesiphorus was “not ashamed” of Paul’s chains, something he urged Timothy to do earlier in 2 Tim 1. Onesiphorus doesn’t just stumble upon Paul in Rome. Rather he takes initiative to search for him and does not give up until he finds Paul. Finally, Onesiphorus brings Paul true refreshment. 
  3. Paul prays for Onesiphorus to receive mercy from the Lord. 

Evening Reflection

Spend some time thinking about the spiritual leaders you have or have had. Pray for them and their families and bless them for their work in the Lord. 

March 7, Thursday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on May 11, 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

“Gift Giving”

2 Corinthians 9:14-15

And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 

In my family, gifts have always been an essential part of a celebration; whether it be Christmas, birthdays, or anniversaries, my wife and I make sure to put lots of thought into what kind of gifts we get each other. However, between the two of us, my wife is much better at choosing gifts; she can figure out what I like and do not like, without making it very obvious that she is asking. Since we have been dating, I’ve never been disappointed in the gifts she has given me—I can’t say the same for her. 

As we mentioned in yesterday’s devotion, the Corinthians were preparing a monetary gift for the Jerusalem Church. Paul uses different ways to exhort them to give generously, such as sharing the testimony of the Philippian church, using an illustration on sowing seeds, and teaching that it leads to worship. In the latter part of this passage, Paul finalizes his teaching on generosity with a reminder about God’s greatest gift to us—Jesus. In verse 15, Paul says, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” 

Like the Corinthians, we have many different reasons why we serve others. We serve because God has blessed us with much financial resources, or because we can spiritually grow in our righteousness. While all of these things are very important, the real reason we should bless people is because God has extended His grace to us through Jesus Christ—He is our indescribable gift!  We serve and generously give because God has given us His greatest gift.


When you think of Jesus, do you see Him as an indescribable gift? Do you treasure Him? I want to encourage you to spend some time giving thanks to God for sending Jesus to redeem us. Without Him, we would be stuck in death, fear, and shame. But in Him we have life, joy, and peace! 

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for giving me the greatest gift of all. Help me to treasure this gift in my heart and not be distracted by the busyness of ministry. I understand I have to be a good steward of the spiritual gifts You have given to me, but help me to treasure You above all things. Amen!  

Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 4

Lunch Break Study

Read Ephesians 2:1-8: As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Questions to Consider

  1. Why is it impossible to save ourselves (v. 3)?
  2. What is the purpose for the Ephesians to be seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (v.7)?
  3. Why are we not saved by our own works (v. 9)?

Notes

  1. We cannot save ourselves because we have an innate desire to gratify our own flesh—we are the problem. It is only through Christ’s work on the cross that we can be saved.
  2. It is important that the Ephesians be seated with Christ so that they can be testimony for future Christians. Their salvation will be a testimony of Christ’s grace and mercy.
  3. So that we cannot boast in our own strength.

Evening Reflection

In light of today’s devotion on God’s gift to us, have you given thanks to Him? Are you more focused on the gifts you receive from Jesus, rather than the gift Himself? Please take some personal time to worship Jesus for who He is.

March 6, Wednesday

REPOSTToday’s AMI Devotional QT, first posted on April 16, 2017, is provided by Pastor Shan Gian who leads Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan.  Shan is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“According to the Flesh”

2 Corinthians 5:16-17

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 

Rightly or wrongly, in any news story in the United States, it is incredibly easy for people to point their fingers and claim that race was a major factor. We see this in major issues like elections, laws, and systems of government, as well as in minor issues, such as the skin color of the actors cast in a movie or TV show.  A couple of weeks ago, there was a shocking video of a man being dragged off of an airplane, and it took no time for people to wonder if the fact that the man was Asian had anything to do with it.  

Racism in our day is terrible—and it should be a concern for everyone. However, what I’ve noticed is that it’s really easy to point our fingers at someone else and declare, “Racism! You’re a racist!” but it’s much harder to turn that finger around, point at ourselves and confess, “I am racist!” If all of us, people of any color, culture or backgrounds, were to be honest with ourselves, and to reflect on our own thoughts and patterns, I think we would discover the truth that, as apostle Paul would say, we regard people according to the flesh, or as we would say in our culture, “We are racists.”  

This is an uncomfortable but unavoidable truth. When we walk down a street and see someone of a certain culture dressed a certain way, we cannot help but make a snap judgment in our minds about what kind of person he or she is. When we look at people around us, we cannot help but think about their potential, based on how they look or how they act. We all are wired to see others “according to the flesh.”

There are many potential solutions that are promoted in our day to recognize and overcome our biases, whether it’s better laws, better education, more exposure to different cultures and people groups, etc. But the only way for any one of us to overcome our own racist tendencies is to become new creations in Christ. We have to be born again in order to see others rightly.  Paul says that we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, meaning that he and others saw Jesus either as a teacher, an instigator, a heretic, or a terrible man who died shamefully on a cross.  But then he says, “…we regard him thus no longer.”  Instead, he and others saw Him as a risen Savior and King.  The only way Paul could overcome his bias and discrimination was that he had to become a new creation.  If we become new creations in Christ, we, then, have the power to regard no one according to the flesh, but see others through God’s eyes.

Prayer: Jesus, I pray that in You I can be and live like a new creation. Forgive me for how I view others according to the flesh, but help me to see people as You see them.  Overcome my bias and discrimination, and may my life be a reflection of Your love. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 3

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 18:9-14: He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Questions to Consider

  1. What did the Pharisee think about the tax collector? Put yourself in the Pharisee’s shoes.  What would you think about this tax collector?
  2. How did the tax collector see himself?  How did God see the tax collector?  
  3. What is the root of regarding others according to the flesh?  How can we overcome this way of “regarding” others?

Notes

  1. When the Pharisee saw this tax collector, he automatically judged him as a sinful and unrighteous man. Tax collectors in that time had a reputation of being corrupt men, who betrayed the Jewish people by working for the enemy (Rome), and making this worse, they were thought to be cheating the people of money for their own gain. 
  2. The tax collector saw himself as a sinner.  He knew his sinful state, and he humbled himself because he knew that he was unworthy to be before a holy God. God saw his humble state with love and justified him.
  3. The root of regarding others according to the flesh is pride and comparison.  The Pharisee saw himself as righteous in comparison to this tax collector—not comparing himself to the holy God.  In racism, and other forms of discrimination, the root of it is also pride, seeing oneself as superior over another in terms of race, gender, profession, status, etc.  The only way to overcome this is to view ourselves as the tax collector viewed himself—a wretched sinner in need of mercy from the holy God. 

Evening Reflection

Let’s pray for the issues of racism in this country. Pray that reconciliation will happen between different ethnic and cultural groups.  But let us first pray for ourselves that we may live as new creations and that the church will show the world what it means to regard others not according to the flesh but to see others as God sees them.

March 5, Tuesday 

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on March 21, 2017, is provided by Pastor David Kwon who leads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina.  David is a graduate of Drexel University (B.S.) and Columbia International University (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Church Controversies”

1 Corinthians 11:2-16

Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5 but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. 6 For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head. 7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9 Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.

Today’s passage is difficult to interpret, and the temptation might be to look at what Paul says in the opening verses of 1 Corinthians 11 as entirely cultural, and as a result, dismiss what he is saying.  Without denying the text’s complexities, we can begin with what is clear in today’s passage. 

1.  First, on the basis of the creation account as well as the dynamic of the marriage relationship, Paul explains that gender distinction does in fact matter. And though men and women are different, they are still interdependent. Neither inherently occupies a more important role in the church. In fact, Paul does not challenge here the practice of women praying and prophesying in the church. He wants to ensure, however, that they do so in suitable and unique ways.

2.  Women whose heads are uncovered while they pray (the original Greek language here suggests not that she lacks an actual veil, but that her hair falls loosely on her shoulders) would resemble women praying in the pagan temples, where they did so with their hair unbound. This actually had serious implications, because women whose hair was not bound up might be mistaken for the equivalent of temple prostitutes. Thus, the discussion here about head coverings is consistent with the earlier exhortations regarding sexual immorality and Christian freedom in the earlier chapters of 1 Corinthians.  Just as he has in many other places in his letter, Paul is identifying the church as unique and separate from the world. Here is what one commentator says about these verses:

“Women’s hair was a common object of lust in antiquity, and in much of the eastern Mediterranean women were expected to cover their hair. To fail to cover their hair was thought to provoke male lust as a bathing suit is thought to provoke it in some cultures today. Head covering prevailed in Jewish Palestine (where it extended even to a face veil) and elsewhere, but upper-class women eager to show off their fashionable hairstyles did not practice it. Thus Paul must address a clash of culture in the church between upper-class fashion and lower-class concern that sexual propriety is being violated. (That Greeks bared their heads for worship and Romans covered them might also be significant, given the dual affiliation of Corinth as a Greek and Roman city. But because this custom was not divided along gender lines, it is probably irrelevant here.)” – Keener, C. S. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary: New Testament (1 Co 11:2–16).

C. S. Lewis once noted that Christians need to distinguish between social and cultural norms that change in different times and places (he gave the example of modesty in Victorian England and the Polynesian Islands), and biblical principles that are true in all times and places (for example, chastity). 

Here is a challenge for us today: are you willing to give up a preference for the sake of church unity and the advancement of the gospel?  This morning, let’s pray that we would desire unity (over our own preferences) in our churches so that the gospel can be furthered advanced.  

Prayer: Lord, thank You for challenging texts, because they help us think deeper about our faith and what we believe.  May we set aside our differences and preferences for the sake of the advancement of the gospel.  Amen.    

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 2

Lunch Break Study 

Read: Acts 2:42-47:And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Questions to Consider

  1. How does Luke describe the early church?
  2. What were the components of unity amongst the believers?
  3. In looking at the early church, how should we pray for our respective churches today?

Notes

  1. Powerful and unified.  They were devoted to one another and the Holy Spirit was in the midst of their gathering.
  2. They were devoted to the Word, breaking of bread (communion), and one another.  These are the same components that make the church unified today.  
  3. We should pray for unity, power and evangelism in our churches today.  Pray that Holy Spirit’s power would be so evident, that even those who are outside of the faith would see the work of God in the midst of His people as they gather and worship.  

Evening Reflection

How has the Lord spoken to you today?  Take some time in quiet reflection.  With an open heart and attentive ears, ask Him to speak to you.  

March 4, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 18, 2017.

Devotional Thoughts for This Morning

“What a Muslim Told Me about Those Who Kill in Allah’s Name”

John 8:3-5 (NIV)

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 

A Turkish man sitting next to me in our flight from Istanbul to Antalya in 2015 bore a striking resemblance to Manu Ginobili, an Argentinian basketball player from San Antonio Spurs.  When I commented to him of this, he (who spoke some English) became quite pleased after seeing that Ginobili wasn’t bad looking.  This then led to a pleasant conversation about religion, including acts of terrorism committed by those who do so in the name of Allah.  In one poignant moment, the man said, “Had I seen these terrorists first, I wouldn’t be a Muslim, but I read the Koran first.”  I took that to mean, first, the Koran doesn’t advocate violence; and second, the terroristic Muslims do not accurately represent the sacred book. 

Is that correct?  Not according to Paul Johnson, an English historian trained at Oxford, who argues that Islam is inherently a violent and intolerant religion.  But Fareed Zakaria, a secular Muslim who once taught at Harvard, isn’t so sure, saying, “Nothing will be solved by quoting the Koran. You can find in it condemnations of war and incitements to struggle, beautiful expressions of tolerance and stern strictures against unbelievers.”  What Zakaria fails to note, however, is that “there are very few verses of tolerance and peace to balance out . . . at least 109 verses . . . that call for nonbelievers to be fought and subdued until they either accept humiliation, convert to Islam, or are killed.”  

For instance, Koran 2:191-193 states, “And kill them wherever you find them. . . Al-Fitnah (disbelief or unrest) is worse than killing . . . but if they desist, then lo! Allah is forgiving and merciful. And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah) and worship is for Allah alone. . ..”  To be fair, the Old Testament has similar verses as well.  For instance, 2 Chronicle 15:13 records what King Asa did to unbelievers: “All who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, were to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman.”  

But one substantial difference between the Bible and Koran is this: Whereas most of the laws taught in the Old Testament have been superseded by the New Testament, the Koran does not have its version of the New Testament.  Thus, whereas true Christians, taking their cues from Jesus who refused to stone a woman caught in adultery, wouldn’t physically harm unbelievers, the Muslims don’t have comparable verses in the Koran.  Of course, most Muslims are not given to violence, but those who are can easily find its justification in the Koran—and that is how Islam, in the hands of a few, may become radicalized and terroristic.  

Please don’t accuse me of Islamophobia.  The Ginobili look-alike Muslim certainly didn’t think so: He was so enamored with our conversation that he was willing to drive me to my hotel—despite being told, “You say Jesus is a prophet, but the Bible says He is the Son of God.” 

Prayer: Lord, help me to love the Muslims and to learn what they believe in so that I could engage in cogent discussions about faith.  Please open my eyes so that my beliefs are influenced by Scripture, Your eternal word—rather than the soundbites from the media. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 1

Lunch Break Study 

Read Colossian 4:5-6: Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

1 Peter 3:15: But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, . . .

Questions to Consider

1. Who are the “outsiders” in the Colossian passage, and “everyone” in the 1 Peter passage?

2. What kind of “opportunity” is the Colossian passage referring to?  Making money?

3. What does it mean that we know “how to answer everyone”?  How are you doing on that?

Notes

1. “Outsiders” or “everyone” refers to anyone who does not believe that Jesus is the Christ, who came to save the sinners.

2. The opportunity here means open occasions to share a prepared answer to those who ask us about our faith—in a non-abrasive manner (conversion full of grace with gentleness and respect).

3. It means that, having anticipated possible questions raised by skeptics or people other religions, we spend time preparing adequate answers to respond to them. 

Evening Reflection

As you look back to today, was there at least one opportunity to answer a question raised by someone at school or office?  If so, were you able to answer it?  Let’s take our faith seriously by adequately preparing ourselves to engage in stimulating and cogent discussions so that we can defend our faith—which has been under assault from all sides.  Pray for a passion to defend God’s truth and check out books like On Guard by William Lane Craig.  

March 3, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on March 26, 2017, is provided by Pastor David Kwon who leads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina.  David is a graduate of Drexel University (B.S.) and Columbia International University (M.Div.).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“If One Suffers, We All Suffer”

1 Corinthians 12:21-31

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

In an article on NPR.org entitled “Getting Some ‘Me’ Time: Why Millennials Are So Individualistic,” it states: “They are a class of self-centered, self-absorbed, selfie-snapping 20-somethings. This is how many critics have come to define the millennial generation.  But hold on, isn’t this what was said about every generation when it was young? Minus the selfies of course.”  Individualism has long been considered the hallmark of America.   It is appealing because we do not like to depend on anyone else—meaning, we like self-sufficiency.  

In this chapter, Paul reminds the church in Corinth that we are to use our spiritual gifts to build up the body, but he also warns the church not to feel like they are so qualified that they do not need the help of others to perform their ministry.  That’s why he writes in v.21 that we should have the attitude of interdependency.  We need one another to build up the body of Christ.  He goes on to say in v.26 that we should have care and concern for one another, that if one member suffers, our attitude should be that we all suffer.  

As Paul talks about the topic of love in the next chapter, he is describing how we should love one another within the body of Christy:  When we truly love, there is no distain for one another, no rivalry or competition, no envy or malice, no inferiority or superiority, but only love—a  love that is patient, kind, not jealous or boastful but always rejoicing in the truth (1 Cor. 13:4-6).  Only Jesus can produce this kind of love and affection for one another.

Pray this morning that you would have a greater love for the members of the body.  As we are called to use our gifts, pray that the Holy Spirit would break our individualistic attitude that often hinders unity but rather a love that would produce unity.  

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for showing us the importance of the body of Christ.  May we have a greater appreciation and love for the churches we attend and serve.  Amen.  

Bible Reading for Today: Mark 16

March 2, Saturday

REPOST  Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on January 28, 2017, is provided by Joanna Tzen, a friend of AMI, who attended and served at Grace Covenant Church (UC) for a long time. 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Sabbath Anyone?”

Exodus 31:12-3 

Then the Lord said to Moses, 13 “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.

I’ve been reading a book titled Emotionally Healthy Leader, where the author interestingly brings up the topic of the Sabbath. So what exactly is a Sabbath? Is it an Old Testament practice that we no longer observe as Christians?

In the Bible, observing the Sabbath is one of the commandments that were given to the Israelites through Moses. They practiced the Sabbath not only because even God rested on the seventh day from the work of creation, but because this observance showed the surrounding peoples that the Israelites trusted God. They would not farm or work on this day; they would rest in God and trust Him.

As time passed, Sabbath had become obligatory restrictions that man added on to; so by Jesus’ time, the teachers confronted Jesus and His disciples for gleaning grain on the Sabbath. That is when Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27-28).

This passage might come to mind for many Christians when they hear the word Sabbath. Why should we as Christians practice it? Isn’t it legalistic? If the purpose is to set aside time to know that God is holy and to worship Him, as well as to recognize our own limits, perhaps it is worth thinking about in our world. As we are constantly bombarded with the lie that we are what we do, I think this practice helps us to ask some hard questions: Are we defining ourselves by our productivity, regardless of whether that work is at church, school or the workplace? What keeps us from resting in God? Are we unconsciously trying to earn God’s salvation?

Prayer: Lord, examine my heart and show me if I have believed the lie that I am what I do. Could it be that I am unable to rest because I am afraid of what I will find within when I am not producing? If I have believed this lie, please forgive me of this and replace it with the truth that I am a beloved child of God, and that what I do does not define me. Help me to rest in the security of Your promises, rejoicing in the salvation You have already secured for me. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Mark 14-15

March 1, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on March 17, 2017, is provided by Pastor Jason Sato who, along with his wife Jessica and three young children (Jonah, Lily, and Ayla), serves in Japan as an AMI missionary. Jason, a graduate of UC San Diego (BS) and Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div.) plans to, the Lord willing, plant a church in Tokyo in 2024. Please pray for this work.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Relational or Robotic”

1 Corinthians 10:1-5 (ESV)

For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, [2] and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, [3] and all ate the same spiritual food, [4] and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. [5] Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

If we are honest, we prefer things that are guaranteed, that is, a sure-fire method that will produce the desired result.  This is because we love to be in control.

As a high school student applying to college, one guaranteed method of gaining admission to my dream school was supposedly test scores.  When I managed to do well on my SATs, my peers told me that I was set for life.  I would get into the best college, graduate with the best major, and get a high paying job.  They were wrong; life is not so robotic.  Even in matters of faith, authors of many how-to Christian books try to sell us a sure-fire method with guaranteed results whether it’s a method of prayer or Bible study.

Have you ever been jealous of biblical characters?  The Israelites walked through the Red Sea.  Joshua saw the walls of Jericho fall.  The twelve disciples saw Jesus feed the five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish.  If only we had been there, seen these miracles, and had these experiences, our faith would be rock solid!  Faith, however, is not so robotic.  Many who saw the glorious cloud, walked through the Red Sea, and ate the miraculous manna did not ultimately please God.  Achan saw the walls of Jericho fall but still succumbed to greed.  Judas saw three years worth of Jesus’s miracles before betraying Him.

When we trust in methods or experiences, we can begin to imagine that we are experts.  We become proud and are setting ourselves up for a fall.  Real Christian faith is not about methods or even experiences.  Christian faith is trusting in a person.  It’s relational, and while relationships have predictable rhythms, they don’t function like scientific experiments.  In fact, if we are looking for guaranteed methods that lead to guaranteed results, a personal relationship becomes a hindrance, not a help.  

When we truly trust in Jesus, then we are no longer in control but he is.  While this is uncomfortable at first, it can ultimately be glorious.  Remember, when the Israelites were helpless slaves in Egypt, God revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush.  When Joshua was helpless before the stronghold city of Jericho, God revealed the plan that would lead the victory.  When the disciples were helpless before the arrest and murder of Jesus, God saved them and the world.

Our helplessness, not our strength, opens the door for the miraculous work of God and the miracle is not just a show of power, but a means to know the One True God. 

Prayer: Father, I thank You that You are a living God, not a cosmic force or spiritual vending machine.  You have made me to know You.  May I not be distracted by Your gifts or miracles but may they be the means to knowing and loving You more. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Mark 13

Lunch Break Study

Read Galatians 6:1-3 (ESV): Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. [2] Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. [3] For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 

Question to Consider

  1. What do people struggling with sin truly need?
  2. Are spiritual people above temptation?
  3. What happens when we are tempted to overestimate ourselves?

Notes

  1. They need brothers or sisters who will restore them in a spirit of gentleness.  Often, God addresses our helplessness (i.e., strengthen us) through other people.
  2. No, they must keep careful watch of themselves.
  3. When we feel that we don’t need others to bear our burdens, we are liable to fall.  

Evening Reflection

Reflect upon your day.  Did you interact with God?  Did you carry an attitude of “I’m in charge” or “I am helpless without Him?  Ask the Lord to intervene in your life.

February 29, Thursday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was first posted on February 9, 2017.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Devotional Thought For This Morning

“Don’t Pity the ‘Fool!’”

1 Corinthians 1:18

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 

Two preachers share embarrassing moments: 

Hannah: I was preaching about Law vs. Grace and used Deuteronomy 23:12-14 as an example for crazy laws. One of the students generously volunteered before service to read the passage out loud…when it came time to read, he misunderstood what verse I said to begin with and just started at verse 1. I lost all attention for the rest of service. 

Deuteronomy 23:1 definitely shouldn’t be read out loud in a youth group.

(“No one whose testicles are crushed or whose male organ is cut off shall enter the assembly of the LORD” Deuteronomy 23:1.)

Robert: My most embarrassing preaching story was my 1st experience with a ‘lavalier’ mic! The choir sang and I got up to preach, but I was still getting over the stomach flu!

I felt some moving so I called the choir back to sing and ran out as they sang, “Let the Lord have His Way.” I barely made out of the auditorium. Suddenly, my wife ran into the men’s restroom and said, “Your mic is still on!”

Needless to say when I came back to the pulpit, we just dismissed!

Many moments in a life lived serving the Lord can leave us feeling silly, embarrassed, or even foolish. But unlike the funny stories above, for those who’ve positioned themselves long enough before God in a posture of surrender and obedience, the trajectory of life with Christ can manifest a more sobering foolishness. Promotions foregone in an effort to build a healthy family, shortcuts not taken in an effort to live with integrity, money given away in an effort to invest in the mission of God, relationships over working late, missions trip over summer internships, forgiveness over revenge, hope over despair – all these things look rather foolish to the world around us. But the humble life to which Jesus calls each of us is one He Himself lived perfectly and is one that will bear a profound witness to the goodness of the gospel if we are willing to walk it out. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to walk humbly before You today in obedience and surrender. May the decisions I make be guided by the conviction of Your Holy Spirit and the truth of Your Word. Make me willing to be foolish in the eyes of the world for the sake of walking faithfully in the power of Your salvation. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Mark 12

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 1:18-23: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

Questions to Consider

  1. According to the passage, what are some ways God has made Himself known to us? 
  2. One Bible translation titles this passage, “Unbelief and Its Consequences.” What are the consequences of unbelief? 
  3. How have you experienced the truth of vv.21-22 in your life (perhaps in your thinking before you became a Christian, or more recently in some of your not-yet-sanctified thoughts)? 

Notes

  1. God has made himself known through His invisible attributes, power, and nature displayed in the world He has made. If we are careful to take note of the created world around us, we will be hard pressed to miss God’s self-revelation. 
  2. Unbelief (suppressing the truth) results in foolishness that leads us to ungodliness and unrighteousness, which are both subjects to the wrath of God. When we turn away from God and shut our eyes to His self-revelation, refusing to acknowledge Him (honor Him/give Him thanks), we find ourselves thinking, believing, and doing all sorts of things utterly void of genuine wisdom. 
  3. Spend time in personal reflection. 

Evening Reflection

In her song “Fool For You,” Nichole Nordeman reflects on the times in life when “faith and common sense do not align,” and she found it difficult to live a life that seemed foolish to those around her (and to her own doubting heart).  She concludes her musings by calling to mind the life of Jesus who, “unaware of popularity and unconcerned with dignity,” came and made Himself a fool for all of us through His incarnation and crucifixion.

“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (I Cor. 1:18).

Spend sometime reflecting on the life of Jesus in light of our passage from this morning. How does this encourage you to make choices and live a life may seem foolish to those around you? (Feel free to listen to Nichole’s song during your time of reflection! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEpoBGJ9LlA).

February 28, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 13, 2017.

Devotional Thoughts for This Morning

“Is It Okay to Say, ‘Speak English, You are in America’?”

Daniel 1:3-4

Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. 

Just before last Christmas, an elderly woman’s caustic rant directed at two Hispanic shoppers in Louisville went viral.  She said many hurtful things such as “Go back to wherever the _____ you come from,” and also “Speak English . . . you are in America.” 

While attending many worship services in Mexico where I lived for a decade, I noticed that whenever visitors from America tried to introduce themselves in broken Spanish, most congregants appreciated it even if it was incomprehensible.  Such a gracious response, however, wasn’t extended to those Americans who were longtime residents of Mexico and continued to speak poor Spanish.  

Among several reasons why a foreigner choosing to live in a new country should learn its language is being respectful toward the host nation and its people.  Just as important a reason is that the ability to speak the language of the land opens the door for wider job and educational opportunities.  From a socioeconomic standpoint, the fact that the prophet Daniel, taken to Babylon as a teenager, learned to speak and write in Aramaic (well enough to pen portions of his book in it) was one key factor that led to his high employment in the king’s palace.  

Respectfully and lovingly encouraging immigrants, particularly the youth, to learn English is not racist; it’s a matter of showing respect for the host nation and doing what is good for their future wellbeing.  I came to the United States when I was 14 (1974) without speaking English; my SAT verbal score was 480.  Yes, mastering the English language was a struggle (still is), but in time, I attained enough proficiency to publish numerous articles in English, and I recently contributed a chapter to a textbook on mission published in England (2015).  I went to Mexico to serve as a missionary when I was 40 without the ability to speak any Spanish (2000).  After taking one year to learn it, I went to the field mostly to teach and develop theological courses (books) in Spanish, one of which was published in Mexico (2005), which is still being used as a textbook.  

Even more significantly, learning a new language can be a spiritual experience because, in my case as an older person, I had to absolutely rely on God to learn Spanish.  And the faithful God gave me the wisdom and motivation to master Spanish in answer to my daily prayers.  Now, I can preach about the greatness of our God in a language spoken by over 500 million people—“Gloria a Dios!”

So, to my immigrant “compañeros,” I say without a hint of racism: “Work hard to learn English”; trust God in whom “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:13). 

Prayer: Father, please help me to have a sympathetic heart toward those young people who still have a difficult time speaking and writing in English.  Help me to get involved with perhaps some outreach efforts such as local schools or afterschool programs so that I can tangibly express my faith in Christ through my community involvement.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Mark 11

Lunch Break Study 

Read John 1:1, 14, 18 (ESV): In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . .. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. . .. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

Luke 2:52 (ESV): And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

Questions to Consider

1. Describe what had to transpire for God to make Himself known to us.

2. Who came to where first, and once there, what did this individual have to learn?

3. We began this day talking about learning the language of the host nation.  In what sense did God show His great love and “respect” for His fallen creatures?  

Notes

1. God, who is infinite and transcendent and thus beyond the reach of humans, made Himself known to them through the Son, His “exact representation” (Heb. 1:3) who became flesh and dwelt among men so that they could know God through the incarnate Son.   

2. Jesus came to earth first in a human form and learned, including several languages (e.g., Aramaic, Greek, etc.), wisdom, obedience (Heb. 5:8), etc. 

3. God, knowing that fallen men cannot reach Him on their own, allowed His own Son to become one of them but without sin, beginning the process as a helpless baby so that the Son can bring us back to God and also become the source of comfort for us (Heb. 4:15) while we still journey on earth. 

Evening Reflection

In what language did you communicate today at home, school, or the office?  No, I’m not talking about English but the language of God.  2 Corinthians 5:20 tells us that “we are God’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”  Most ambassadors speak at least two languages: the language of the sending country and the host country.  So, how good is your grasp of the “language of God,” that is, God’s word?  How good is your grasp of the “language of man”, especially when they speak of their despair, hopelessness, and even deceptive concepts?  Why not make this year a time of really learning God’s language: reading and studying the Bible seriously.  And when you spend time with others, especially unbelievers, learn and prepare yourself to really understand what they’re trying to say about their life.   Then, pray for them and speak to them the language of God.  Pray for that right now.