January 22, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Christine Li, was originally posted on March 17, 2019. Christine serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Diligence in Seeking God”

Exodus 9:27-28, 34

“Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. ‘This time I have sinned,’ he said to them. ‘The Lord is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. ²⁸Pray to the Lord, for we have had enough thunder and hail. I will let you go; you don’t have to stay any longer…’ ³⁴When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had stopped, he sinned again: He and his officials hardened their hearts.”

I have found that there is no time like the last month before a big exam. My lifestyle becomes machine-like as my diligence kicks into high gear: I sleep regular hours, I exercise regularly, I even meal prep – all so I can devote additional time before and after work to study. Something is thrilling about living in my best state during a high-stakes season. However, my off-season lifestyle is shameful. Most of these habits drop to the wayside and prove that, at my core, I am loose and undisciplined. One might say it’s normal to not have otherworldly discipline, but it is obvious to me that the urgency of my situation changes my dedication and focus.

We have just experienced a glimmer of hope when Pharaoh surveys the consequences of not letting the Israelites go – all his land is destroyed. He seems about ready to relent and is willing to let the Israelites go and have Moses intercede on his behalf. When the stakes are high, he too submits to the Lord. But once God relieves the Egyptians, instead of repentance and worship, Pharaoh loses interest in seeking God.

Does your level of comfort change whether you seek God or believe you really need Him? In times of relative ease, are you like me, forgetting that we are called to faithfulness? Today, let’s resolve to make habits in our lives so that our spiritual hunger does not wax and wane with circumstance. Big, sweeping plans seem exciting, but small habits that will pay off in the long run. Let’s make time today to dedicate ourselves to seeking God: one more chapter of the Word than usual, or 5-10 more minutes of prayer than usual. Over time, as we build these habits, may we become people who are steadfast and faithful through all circumstances.

Prayer: Father, I want to know You more, but I confess that I am often slow and lazy to seek You. Help me to encounter You and build my faithfulness so that I can gain a faithful, steady heart that is constant in every circumstance and situation. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 3

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Timothy 4:6-16: “If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. 11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

Questions to Consider

Note that Paul says both physical and spiritual trainings hold value. How does Paul contrast physical and spiritual training?
What are the ways in which we can train ourselves to be godly?
What are ways in which you are training yourself to be godly? What are additional ways in which you can do so?

Notes

It is important to note that they both are valuable, and this should be an affirmation to those who pursue both physical and spiritual training. However, Paul reminds us that spiritual training brings about promise for both this life and the one to come, whereas physical training is valuable for only this life. It is the eternal return on investment in spiritual training that gives it greater worth and value.
First, Paul writes that people must forego “godless myths and old wives’ tales” – aka compelling words that are not filled with the hope and certainty of God’s promises. Myths and tales give us good ideas, but they do not nourish our souls the way that God’s teaching does. In this vein, Paul further encourages Timothy to be devoted to the reading and preaching of the Word. He is encouraged to further pursue the spiritual gifts and also to strive to be an example in all facets of his life: speech, action, love, faith, and purity. Lastly, Timothy is charged to live diligently and let others look into how his life is run – this type of spiritual accountability with his public life is meant to spur him on in godliness.
Personal reflection.

Evening Reflection

How was your time with God today? What are steps you can take to maintain diligence in seeking God? Pray that God will give you these opportunities again tomorrow.

January 21, Wedneday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on April 10, 2019, 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

“No Other gods Before Me”

Exodus 20:1-6

1 And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands[b] of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Recently, a pastor and I were discussing the family dynamics of Chinese households in China. Because many families only have one child, these children are doted upon, not only by parents, but also grandparents. Parents spend most of their time and energy working to financially provide for their children. Grandparents, who are retired, spend much of their time taking their grandchildren to and from extra-curricular activities.

While this may seem like an ideal situation, this puts tremendous pressure on these children. Why? Parents and grandparents pour all of their time and resources into their children, so that their children may grow up to become successful, and, in return, take care of them. Thus, a big struggle for parents in Chinese churches is that they begin to idolize their children.

In this passage, after the Israelites have encamped next to Mount Sinai, Moses meets with the Lord. The Lord then directs him to tell the Israelites that if they keep the covenant, then, they would become the most treasured possession among all peoples. Once the Israelites agree to follow the Lord, the Lord commands them to consecrate themselves because He is going to speak to Moses for the Israelites to hear. Quickly He imparts the Ten Commandments for the Israelites to obey, the first of which is, “You shall have no other gods before me” (v. 3).

Upon hearing the phrase, “Other gods,” we often think of physical idols found in temples. While these are certainly other gods, many of us are not tempted to bow down before them. Yet, many of us still struggle with this first commandment. How so? The gods with which we struggle in the 21^st century are not made of stone, gold, or silver; rather, these so-called gods are seemingly good things discreetly integrated into our daily lives. Like the example about Chinese families, our gods are anything that we think can save or satisfy us apart from God. These gods can come in the form of our children, social media, finances, degrees, etc. The scary thing is that we do not even realize these things have become our gods.

God puts this verse as the first commandment because He wants to make it very clear—not that He is an egocentric God—that our lives must be God-centered. Our God is the only person who can truly save and satisfy us; turning to anything else will only hurt us in the end.

This morning, invite the Holy Spirit into your heart to make you aware of anything that might be a god in your life. Is there anything in your life that you have become dependent or has become your mode of satisfaction? If there is, ask the Lord for forgiveness and to help you become more God-centered.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for saving us through your son, Jesus Christ. Lord, You call us to live God-centered lives because only You can truly save and satisfy us. You do not want us to live under the lie that these other gods can do the same. If there is anything in my life that has taken your place, please help me turn back to You. In your name I pray, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 6:19-24: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,[c] your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy,[d] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Questions to consider

Why does Jesus teach us not to store up treasures here on earth?
What does the metaphor in verses 22-23 mean?
Why is it impossible to serve two masters?

Notes

Jesus teaches us not to store up treasures here on earth because these earthly treasures are temporary and will decay. Even in the digital world, cyberspace is not safe from “viruses,” power outages, and the disappearance of backups.

In this passage, the eyes represent the heart. Therefore, if the heart is healthy, then the whole body would be full of light. However, if the heart is unhealthy, then the whole body would be full of darkness.
It is impossible to serve two masters because our heart’s affection cannot be divided. Our hearts will naturally love one and reject the other. Therefore, we must give our Lord an undivided heart.

Evening Reflection

This morning, we invited the Holy Spirit to help us become aware of some idols in your life. This evening, take some time to reflect why these “things or persons” have become idols? What are some ways that you can protect your heart?

January 20, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Christine Li, was originally posted on January 20, 2019. Christine serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Speaking Truths to One Another”

Exodus 9:13

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Get up early in the morning, confront Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me’”

Proverbs 27:5-6

“Better is open rebuke than hidden love.⁶Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”

One of my most positive relationships at work has come with a woman who managed me for some time. Several months after we started working together, she called me in the middle of the day to say, “I want you to know that I care a lot about you, and I need you to remember that as I address something…” and identified a problem at work that reflected poorly on me. As she laid it out, the words stung, but because I knew she was right, and I knew the observations came from a place of concern, it became an extremely rewarding conversation. Because of her constructive and caring feedback, I grew a lot, and I still appreciate that she is someone I trust to tell me the truth and to say it for my good.

While human nature may be critical and judgmental, few of us are comfortable having hard conversations or confrontations. Yet, sometimes God challenges us to step into the lives of our brothers/sisters to kindly direct them into the truth. Without truth, we can easily deceive ourselves, and we suffer the consequences of our own blind spots. With the help of brothers and sisters who are willing and glad to help us in our weaknesses, we can find true healing, restoration, and growth.

Done well, loving confrontation will bring life and healing to us and to others. Today, let’s resolve to devote ourselves to the growth and godliness of those around us. May we not let temporary awkwardness or insecurity separate us from the lasting fruits that would result from these conversations. Let us ask God to give us the love and courage to be forthright friends and to be completely devoted to others’ growth and godliness. And let us ask Him also for humility to receive and internalize instruction when it is given to us.

Prayer: Father, I want to grow in Your grace, but You also know that I am a coward at times. Would You give my brothers and sisters the courage, love, and devotion to bring Your truth into my life? For their sakes, too, make me a faithful friend who will push them towards You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 1

Lunch Break Study

Read Ephesians 4:25-32: “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Questions to Consider

What are the ways in which we should speak to one another?
The context for this passage is that Paul is giving instructions on what holy living looks like. How is our speech tied to holy living?
Paul suggests here that the purpose of our words is not self-expression but rather building each other up. What would it look like for you and me to make that our primary motivation each time we speak?

Notes

Paul instructs that our speech should be truthful to each other. However, our speech should also be free of bitterness, anger, and malicious intents. Conversations with each other must be kind, compassionate, and full of forgiveness. The goal of our words should be to bless one another and build each other up.
Speaking is also an action. Just as we must not steal, we also must not sin by the words that we say. There is a great deal of emphasis in this passage to be careful of the attitudes and words that spring from us; it seems that our words should be as carefully trained as our other actions are.
Personal reflection.

Evening Reflection

Take some time to reflect on your conversations from today. Were they fuller of truth and the desire to bring life to others? Let’s ask Him to give us grace again for tomorrow and to be people who treasure His truth and goodness above everything else.

January 19, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Andrew Kim, was originally posted on June 24, 2019. Andrew is presently pastoring Alive Church in Montreal.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Empathy and Sympathy”: Which One Does Jesus Have for Us?

Exodus 39:1-7

“From the blue and purple and scarlet yarns they made finely woven garments, for ministering in the Holy Place. They made the holy garments for Aaron, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 2 He made the ephod of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. 3 And they hammered out gold leaf, and he cut it into threads to work into the blue and purple and the scarlet yarns, and into the fine twined linen, in skilled design. 4 They made for the ephod attaching shoulder pieces, joined to it at its two edges. 5 And the skillfully woven band on it was of one piece with it and made like it, of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 6 They made the onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold filigree, and engraved like the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the sons of Israel. 7 And he set them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod to be stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel, as the Lord had commanded Moses.”

Social psychologist Brene Brown has recently become increasingly popular for her insights into topics like shame and vulnerability. As for me, I’ve benefited from her work on the difference between empathy and sympathy. For Brown, sympathy is often an unhelpful response to someone else’s suffering because it is essentially an act of feeling sorry for someone without connecting with that person in the place of pain. For example, sympathy responds to someone’s miscarriage with, “At least you know you can get pregnant.” Or to someone’s struggling marriage with, “At least you have a marriage.” At church a sympathetic response might look like cliché answers like, “Don’t worry, God has a plan in all of this.” While these types of responses to people’s pains are our attempts at fixing the problem, according to Brown, they rarely make a situation better.

Empathy on the other hand is our desire not to solve the issue but to step into that person’s place of pain. It is to connect and identify with what they’re going through—to help the suffering person feel understood and heard. According to Brown’s research, it is the empathic response that actually brings healing and solace to the other. Simply put, identifying with a person’s concerns and issues has a profound impact when it comes to comforting those who are struggling.

In today’s passage, we are given a description of the ephod worn by the high priest. It details the different materials used to design the priest’s uniform. An interesting detail is found in verses 6-7, where it says that the names of the sons of Israel are engraved onto the stones that are on the ephod. This small detail speaks to the primary role of the high priest, which was to take the burdens and concerns of the people into the presence of God that resided in the temple. They were to intercede on behalf of the Israelites before God. They were called to care for their people.

Interestingly, in the book of Hebrews, Jesus is called the better high priest. There are numerous reasons as to why He is greater than an ordinary high priest, but one significant reason is that Jesus personally knew our struggles. The high priest would only be able to bring the concerns of their people secondhand. They had not experienced or were able to identify with all the problems that afflicted the people. But Hebrews 4:15 says, in referring to Jesus, “We do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses.” In other words, Jesus has gone through the entire spectrum of sin’s impact on humanity; that is, he has experienced loneliness, rejection, death and betrayal—but without ever giving into temptations (i.e., sinning). Thus, we can be assured that Jesus can empathize with us, for he has readily stepped into our place of pain to be the source of our comfort. And it is with that heart Jesus constantly intercedes on our behalf to the Father.

Let us, therefore, find comfort and healing in knowing that Jesus is the high priest who understands our pains, and is praying for us with intimate knowledge of our struggles!

Prayer: Father, we thank You for Your Son Jesus who had become flesh and stepped into our broken world. We thank You that we have a high priest who is intimately acquainted with our pain and intercedes on our behalf. Help me to find comfort and hope in this truth especially in difficult seasons. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 21

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 26:36-46: Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

Questions to Consider

Why is Jesus so full of anguish in this story?
What do you notice about Jesus that is unusual in this passage?
What do you find comforting about this passage?

Notes

Jesus understands that soon He will be crucified and will have to bear the wrath of God on behalf of sinful humanity. The deepest source of pain and fear is that part of this process entails being forsaken by the Father with whom He has been in perfect and eternal communion.
Jesus has always seemed calm and collected throughout the gospel narratives. No matter what the issue or pressures He felt, it seemed as if He had everything under control. For the first time, we see Jesus deeply affected by what’s ahead; so much so that He is asking the Father if there was another way to fulfill His mission; and in other accounts He is sweating blood. The humanity of Jesus is clearly demonstrated in this passage.
Personal

Evening Reflection

“In the midst of God’s own grief and sorrow, we see God with us and believe that he is able somehow to take up our burdens upon himself and deliver us from our despair. He is not distant from our pain. He understands our suffering because Jesus Christ – God in human flesh – suffered.” – Trevin Wax

January 18, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on October 28, 2018, is provided by Pastor Paul Liu who pastors the Grace Covenant Church Singapore. He is a graduate of University of Illinois (BA) and Biblical Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Unseen, Ugly, and Radical Beauty”

Jeremiah 48:31-33, 36, 46-47

Therefore I wail for Moab; I cry out for all Moab; for the men of Kir-hareseth I mourn. 32 More than for Jazer I weep for you, O vine of Sibmah! Your branches passed over the sea, reached to the Sea of Jazer; on your summer fruits and your grapes the destroyer has fallen. 33 Gladness and joy have been taken away from the fruitful land of Moab; I have made the wine cease from the winepresses;
no one treads them with shouts of joy; the shouting is not the shout of joy… 36 Therefore my heart moans for Moab like a flute, and my heart moans like a flute for the men of Kir-hareseth. Therefore the riches they gained have perished… 46 Woe to you, O Moab! The people of Chemosh are undone,
for your sons have been taken captive, and your daughters into captivity. 47 Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab in the latter days, declares the Lord.” Thus far is the judgment on Moab.

Have you ever been happy that your friend failed? They missed the last shot, made mistakes in their performance, or didn’t get the promotion they wanted. You don’t want colossal failure for them; you just don’t want them to outshine you by a mile. Maybe you feel better about yourself because of their failure. Or, have you ever felt bad when your friend succeeded? You’re happy for them, but at the same time, you’re not. It’s almost like you can’t celebrate for them because you feel sorry for yourself. If not, good for you! But many of us have had thoughts along these lines. It’s not that we despise our friends, but we love ourselves so much. It’s pretty ugly. It comes from a selfish spirit, an envious heart, and a competitive impulse. Maybe it’s actually a form of hatred—like Jonah, who didn’t want God to forgive Nineveh because they were the enemy of Israel. He didn’t want mercy for them, because he thought that they didn’t deserve it—again, pretty ugly. Even scarier is how we can hide our ugliness from everyone else—but not from God. This should remind us all—we don’t deserve God’s mercy either.

Chapters about God’s judgment against sin and against nations like Philistia and Moab can be pretty heavy stuff. But always traveling alongside God’s ferocious anger at sin is His audacious passion for a lost creation. Even when Moab’s fate seems set, we see God’s compassion. Neither God nor Jeremiah—who is known as the weeping prophet for a reason—delights in the suffering of the Moabites: “I wail for Moab; I cry out for all Moab; my heart moans for Moab like a flute.” This is not the unseen ugliness of the human heart; it’s the radical beauty of God’s compassion. At the end of the chapter, even for Moab, is a promise of restoration: “Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab in the latter days, declares the Lord”—which points not to nationhood or prosperity but redemption. In fact, through the prophet Isaiah, God declares of Jesus: “I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6). This means good news for all nations! Never forget that we don’t deserve this. And always celebrate and be glad that we have it through Jesus!

Prayer: God, we thank You that in Jesus we have received mercy! We don’t deserve it. We deserve the opposite. Expose the unseen ugliness of our hearts and lead us to the radical beauty of Your grace. Help us today to see the beauty of Your compassions, the strength of Your victory, and make us a people who will live for Your fame and renown. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 20

January 17, Saturday

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Surprised by His Grace”

Jeremiah 46: 25-26

The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, said: “Behold, I am bringing punishment upon Amon of Thebes, and Pharaoh and Egypt and her gods and her kings, upon Pharaoh and those who trust in him. 26 I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their life, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. Afterward Egypt shall be inhabited as in the days of old, declares the Lord.”

In today’s passage, we find a strange and unexpected plot twist. The whole chapter was committed to detailing the sure destruction of Egypt—that God was going to hand over their nation to Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians. The scary part was that there was nothing they could do about it. No amount of preparation was going to change their fate, not only because the Babylonians were more powerful, but because it was the inevitable judgment of God that would come to pass. However, we see a sign of grace from God towards the Egyptians in verse 26. Jeremiah proclaims on behalf of God that they will not be completely decimated and their land will be “inhabited as in the days of old.” In light of their sin, God had every right to make them disappear from the face of the earth—but He preserves them in a surprising show of mercy.

I am always surprised by the grace of God. Even as I continue to mature as a believer, there are so many areas of my life that need the sanctifying work of God so that I would be conformed into His image. And yet, in spite of my shortcomings, His grace continues to flow and take me by surprise. Even in my failure, His favor and provisions are so evident in my life. It seems as if His grace and mercy know no end. I know that many of us struggle with the shame of sin and thus distance ourselves from God thinking that we’ve lost His favor. We have a hard time believing that God can still love us because of how far we’ve fallen. But we see in this passage that even a pagan nation like Egypt can be recipients of God’s mercy. Let us not doubt the extent and persistence of His grace in our lives, and as the writer of Hebrews says, let us approach the throne of God boldly today!

Prayer: Father, I am astounded by Your constant love and grace in my life. I fall so short in so many areas of my life and yet, You shower me with Your favor. Thank You for Your persistent love and care! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 18-19

January 16, Friday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on June 6, 2019, was written by Pastor Phil Chen, who recently relocated to Houston, Texas, to plant a new AMI church. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Glory of God”

Exodus 33:21-23 (NASB)

Then the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; 22 and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”

Glory is something that is very difficult to describe. Whenever I play basketball with people who are older and out of shape, we like to talk fondly about their “glory days” when we used to be able to run around, dunk and do all sorts of things that we can no longer do. But now, we need to stretch just to make sure we don’t pull a muscle. When we think of our “glory days,” we think of the peak of our human existence, when we felt like we were on the top of the world. Depending on how old you are, you will typically see yourself as either approaching the apex of your life or coming down from the apex of your life. Whether it be our physical attributes, our beauty, our careers, our energy level, we know that there is a peak in our existence that doesn’t last forever – which is why those that have passed it always refer back to the “glory days.” We have trouble defining glory because it is so hard to grasp – human glory is fleeting.

But the glory of God is different in that it is constant throughout the ages. There is no waning of His glory. It is not defined by time or space. So how do we define the glory of God? In many different passages, it says that “the whole earth is full of his glory.” Perhaps a synonym to that would be beauty. The whole earth is full of his beauty. I think of my days in San Diego when I used to sit on the Cliffs in La Jolla and look at the vastness of the ocean, thinking of the greatness of God and the beauty that fills the whole earth. Creation is full of the glory of God – and we know that feeling when we encounter something that takes our breath away.

In this passage, it tells us that the glory of God was too much for Moses to comprehend. Moses found favor in the sight of God and God honors his request to see the glory of God. But the caveat is this: Moses can only see the backside of God because seeing God face to face would be too much for Moses. For Moses, there was absolutely no reference point as to what the fullness of the glory of God would look like, and it seems to be impossible to comprehend for any human being.

John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” As much as Moses longed to see the glory of God, he was not able to behold it. But we live in a time where we have not only seen the glory of God through Jesus Christ, we have the glorious Holy Spirit living within us. How does it make you feel to know that by knowing Jesus, you have known the glory of God that was too much for Moses to comprehend? May we not take for granted this glory that has been revealed to us. As you start your day, let me encourage you to pause and take a moment to reflect upon the glory of God that has been revealed to you – and let that prepare you for the day to come.

Prayer: Father God, everywhere I look, I want to be reminded of Your glory. But more than Your glory that is mirrored in creation, help me to see the fullness of Your glory. Help me to understand the gravity of the glorious Holy Spirit dwelling in me. May my life then become a reflection of that glory. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 17

Lunch Break Study

Read John 1:14-18 (ESV): 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. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

Question to Consider

1. What do you think the “dwelling among us” means?

2. What is the difference between the glory that Jesus embodies from the glory that Moses was able to see?

3. How can you be more cognizant of the glory of God?

Notes

1. The word that could be used here is “tabernacle,” as in, the Word became flesh and tabernacle among us. In the time when Israel was in the wilderness, they pitched a tent in the middle of an encampment where God would dwell with them. This was different from the gods of the past who were distant and far away, but God’s very presence was in their midst. Jesus and the fullness of His glory was described to have come into our very midst for the purpose of dwelling with us.

2. John talks about the glory that we have seen in the manifestation of the Word of God through the flesh of Jesus Christ. Jesus, as the Son of the Father, was the fullness of the Father. At the time, sons were an extension of their father. Therefore, Jesus was not just a representative sent from the Father, but the fullness of the Father coming to them. God made himself known as a visible manifestation to explain the invisible God through Jesus Christ.

3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Read this Psalm from David and spend a moment reflecting on God’s glory:

“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moons and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:1-4).

January 15, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Doug Tritton, was originally posted on September 12, 2019. Doug is the Lead Pastor of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Cultivating Generosity”

Matthew 25:20-21, 29

And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master’ . . . 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

Today’s passage is from the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). If you have not read the entire parable before, I would encourage you to do so before reading this.

The past few days we have been exploring the idea of generosity. Being generous is tied to righteousness, so if we have received Christ’s righteousness through our faith in Him, we ought to express that through generous living. Further, we can be generous as we trust in God, who is our abundantly generous Father. To close this little series, I want to take a look at the Parable of the Talents. Very often when we read this passage, we think of this parable about using our gifts and abilities for God (partly due to the word talent being used in this passage; note that talent here refers to a unit of money). However, when we interpret it this way, we lose sight of the immediate idea of the parable, that of money.

This parable is about a rich man entrusting money to three of his servants with the assumption that they would use it wisely, according to the interests of the master. In the end, two of the servants use the money to increase the wealth of the master while the other servant simply buries the money and then returns it. Jesus commends the two who increased the wealth of the master but chastises the third. The two faithful ones are then given even more because of their faithfulness.

At face value, this parable is teaching us that what we have, especially our finances, are not our own. They belong to our Master and our Master expects us to use them wisely, according to the interests of our Master. All we have is actually all His. God does not just own the 10% we give in our tithe – He owns everything we have. And God is looking for us to make a return on what He gives us. The return He is looking for is not gained interest, but lives that are transformed. He expects us to invest into the Kingdom. This is God’s invitation to us – sow generously into the Kingdom, invest into the Kingdom, make a return on the Kingdom. This is an amazing invitation that God has given to us and when we accept that invitation, we grow in trust and we learn to live under the goodness of God and our lives become fruitful.

Now, quick disclaimer. The last verse says that to those who have, more will be given. This is not saying that we are guaranteed more wealth if we are generous. Rather, the more we make interest on the Kingdom – through our finances, our gifts, really, our whole lives – the more we see God move and the more we get to be a part of God’s Kingdom work. Generosity is a key avenue to being a part of God’s plan of bringing His Kingdom on earth. He is inviting us to join Him, to bring all that we have, and see an abundance come from what we bring. This is surely something we would not want to miss out on!

Prayer: Lord, may You cultivate a heart of generosity in us. May we not be like the third servant who simply buried his talent. Rather, may we seek to invest into Your Kingdom, to bring all we have so that we can reap a fruitful, Kingdom harvest. May we long to hear those words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Bible Reading for Today:John 16

Lunch Break Study

Read Mark 12:41-44: And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Questions to Consider

Compare what the widow gives to what the rich people give.
Why does Jesus commend the poor widow?
Is your mindset more like the rich people or the widow?

Notes

In total numbers, the rich people likely gave a much, much greater amount than the poor widow. Yet, the widow gave all that she has. We do not know what the rich people gave, but likely they gave an amount that was comfortable for them, enough to feel good about themselves.
Jesus says that the widow put more in than all the rich people because she gave everything she had, out of her poverty while the rich people gave out of their abundance. I heard the following quote recently about this passage: “Generosity is not measured by what you give, but by what you don’t give.” The widow held nothing back, while the rich people likely held much back, even though what they gave was likely a lot.
I know it can be easy to think, “Well I’m not rich so I’m not like them!” But the rich people’s mindset was that they’d give what was comfortable for them. Do you give what feels comfortable or what may cause a little discomfort? The widow gave out of her poverty and she is who Jesus commends to us.

Evening Reflection

This evening ask God show you what could happen through your generosity. Perhaps there could be kingdom work accomplished as you enter on the journey of generous giving! Invite God to give you direction about this.

January 14, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s Devotional Thought for Food, originally posted June 17, 2019, is provided by Andy Kim. Andy is the Lead Pastor of Radiance Christian Church in San Francisco.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Devil God is in the Details”

Exodus 37:1-2

“Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half was its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. 2 And he overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold around it.”

Exodus 27:1-2

“You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits broad. The altar shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits. 2 And you shall make horns for it on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze.

Selective listening. It doesn’t take too much effort to walk away from a conversation and only take away what I want to hear. It’s also tend to ignore what I don’t want to hear, especially things I’ve already heard before. And as you read our passage this morning you may also think, Wait, didn’t I just read this passage a few weeks ago in chapters 25-27? You may even find these instructions for building the temple elsewhere. In fact, it’s these passages I often find myself skipping because it seems repetitive—yet, we see one small, but significant difference.

If you look in chapter 27, God provides what seems to be the same set of instructions starting with the command, “You shall make….” Now notice in our passage this morning that it begins with “Bezalel made….” So the difference is that these chapters serve as the fulfillment of what God commanded Moses to do. What we see here is an absolute trust and obedience to His word—down to the smallest detail. But it’s the small things that are always difficult to listen to because we tend to minimize them. Or worse, we tend to pick and choose what we hear from Him out of our own convenience. And the issue with selectively listening to God is that it leads to selectively obeying Him.

We are reminded in our passage that what seems small and insignificant in our eyes is absolutely necessary for building His temple. Jesus teaches us, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much.” For even Jesus, who was God, became small and insignificant in the form of a man to save us. God isn’t impressed with our grand gestures; He’s moved by our faithfulness to His word. May our lives be the fulfillment of His word spoken to us. May we learn to obey Him in all things, not just what we want or is convenient for us so that we live according to His good and perfect will.

Prayer: Father, I confess I only want to hear what I think is good for me. Soften my heart so that I may be sensitive to Your Word. I believe whatever You started in me, You will see it to completion. Purify my desires so that I may faithfully obey You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 15

Lunch Break Study

Read James 1:21-25: Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Questions to Consider

We are continuously taught to read His Word as a spiritual discipline. Why should we read His Word?
How does the Word of God lead us?
How has the Word of God been speaking to you? Does your life reflect it?

Notes

Only His Word can save our souls and so we are to do everything we can to receive it. However, merely listening to the Word does not mean you are actually receiving it. To receive is to do what the Word of God commands. Apostle John in 1 John 2:3 and John 14:21 says that to know Him is to obey Him.
James provides this analogy of a man looking in the mirror. As a mirror reveals a man’s face and the things he cannot see, the Word of God reflects the true condition of our heart. It provides the areas we are to change and grow in. Those who allow God’s Word to direct their lives will be blessed.
Personal Application.

Evening Reflection

When I was young, my pastor would always point us to Colossians 3:23 where Paul writes, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” The example he always gave was that even in our study habits, we could glorify God. Either this was the greatest ploy to get us to study more, or it was indeed true. He is to be glorified in all areas of our lives. Whether it is in our work or even the way we interact with strangers, may we be motivated by His glory. Spend some time reflecting and asking God to reveal these areas in our lives.

January 13, Tuesday

REPOST Todays’ AMI Quiet Time, originally posted on January 21, 2019, is provided by Pastor Ryun.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly in the First Trump Presidency”

1 Timothy 2:1-3

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior.”

Since immigrating to America in 1974, and prior to the 2016 election, I have lived under seven presidents (beginning with Gerald Ford). None of them have been quite like the current one—perhaps none ever have. Every president, whether Republican or Democrat, receives his share of the good, the bad, and the ugly when his administration is evaluated. Yet many on the political left seem poised to make an exception with Donald Trump. They will undoubtedly highlight a litany of negatives associated with him: several people close to the president facing imprisonment for illegal activities, as well as multiple investigations into his campaign and even his foundation. The political right, however, will counter by pointing to record-low unemployment and NATO allies finally increasing their defense spending in response to Mr. Trump’s firm stance.

So how should we evaluate the performance of the current president?

As a pastor with a working knowledge of Scripture, I can confidently say that although the Bible was completed long ago, it still speaks clearly to many contemporary issues—same-sex marriage (Rom. 1:26–27; 1 Cor. 6:9; Eph. 5:31), the sanctity of unborn life (Ps. 139:14–15), and unjust labor practices (James 5:1–6), to name a few. Yet Scripture does not speak with the same clarity on other matters, such as whether to build a wall to secure porous borders (something many politicians on both sides have supported), whether to repeal the Affordable Care Act, or whether to withdraw remaining U.S. troops from Syria.

Therefore, if I am to bear prophetic witness to Donald Trump’s presidency, I must do so on the basis of issues Scripture addresses plainly—leaving no room for your opinion or mine.

Evaluated through that lens, one unequivocally good development during this administration is the weekly Bible studies held in the White House. Several top officials attend, including Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Energy Secretary Rick Perry, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. As believers, we should be grateful that the President allows these leaders to gather in the White House to “humble themselves and pray and seek [God’s] face” (2 Chron. 7:14) as they navigate complex issues that inevitably leave some dissatisfied. Of course, it would be even better if the President himself joined them—something worth praying for in 2019.

But what about the bad—what some would call the illegal? For example, is building a wall immoral? There may be legitimate reasons to oppose it, but as CNN anchor Chris Cuomo—of all people—remarked, “Wanting barriers along the border is not propaganda. It’s not immoral. It’s not wrong.” The truth is that while the intensity surrounding Trump’s alleged misdeeds has reached a fever pitch in some media circles, the key allegations against his campaign remain unproven; some have already been debunked. The most recent claim—that Trump instructed his former lawyer Michael Cohen to lie to Congress—was denied even by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

Nevertheless, it is true that Trump committed adultery with an adult-film actress before becoming president and paid hush money for reasons still unclear. That is unequivocally wrong, and he ought to apologize. Sadly, I would not be surprised if, in time, Trump’s wrongdoing outweighs whatever good he may have accomplished. For now, however, I cannot speak against alleged misconduct related to his campaign until facts are confirmed. If and when they are, we will mourn and call our president to repentance.

Meanwhile, there is much confirmed ugliness in the current presidency. So what would the prophet Nathan or John the Baptist—who confronted King David and Herod Antipas, respectively—say to our President if they were his spiritual advisors? We need not guess. Pastor Eddie Kim of the Church of Southland expressed it well in an August 19, 2018, sermon, from which I quote:

“I don’t mean to get too political here, but I am going there. Whether you like President Trump or not, economists say that our economy is actually steady; as a matter of fact, it is actually booming and growing. Even foreign policy experts and analysts are saying that despite the crazy rhetoric and schizophrenic policy of this administration, there is a weird stability around the world. Even the Iranian pastor who spoke at the AMI conference last week mentioned that the U.S. policy toward Iran right now is actually helping the people—something you don’t hear about in the news. Now, the sad reality is no matter how well this economy does—we could have zero unemployment; we could have Middle East peace and world peace—this presidency sadly will always remain controversial. And that’s because our president comes across as lacking humility.”

The absence of humility—also known as pride—looks ugly on anyone, including the most powerful person in the world. And so we pray for our president. That is our duty, for we are commanded to offer “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings…for kings and all who are in high positions” (1 Tim. 2:1). Pray that President Trump will “humble [him]self before God” (2 Chron. 34:27). Then let us pray the same for ourselves, for we need humility just as much as he does.

Prayer: Lord, we pray for President Trump, the man whom You chose to lead this nation at this moment. God, cause him to humble himself before You and cry out for Your grace and mercy. Remind him to seek forgiveness for his sins and Your righteousness to govern our nation. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 14

Lunch Break Study

Read Daniel 4:28-37: All this [the king’s dream] came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” 33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws. Nebuchadnezzar Restored 34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,

for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; 35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Questions to Consider

1. In what way is our President similar to King Nebuchadnezzar?

2. In what form did the humbling of this mighty king take place?

3. What do you suppose this king realized while he was roaming in the wilderness for 7 years?

Note

1. Nebuchadnezzar was an egotistical king who truly believed that his success was due to his own doing; and it was all for his own glory. A person like that shares credit with no one. It sort of reminds us of a man who used to fire people on his own reality show.

2. God stripped him of everything, even his humanhood. This goes to show how hardened Nebuchadnezzar’s ego was. To this end 1 Peter 5:5^a says, “God opposes the proud.”

3. He reached the end of himself. It took 7 long years for him to realize a simple lesson: God is everything and I am nothing. Jesus puts it: “For apart from me you cannot do nothing” (Jn. 15:5). The second half of 1 Peter 5:5 says, “But [God] gives grace to the humble.” That grace was manifested through his men who searched for Nebuchadnezzar to restore his kingship.

Evening Reflection

As we began the day praying for our President, let us end it by praying for him again. There is no doubt that he has become such a polarizing figure that many of us simply do not like him. Yet he also inherited a nation already deeply divided by what is often called “identity politics,” which prioritizes the needs of certain historically marginalized groups while largely overlooking many of the people who helped elect him. I am veering off course here—but it is a complex job, one that turns every president’s hair gray quickly.

Know that God placed Mr. Trump in office for reasons that are clear to Him and largely a matter of guesswork for us. So pray for the President and for Vice President Vance, as well as for your senators and governors. That is our responsibility.