REPOSTToday’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on October 30, 2016, is provided by Andy Kim who is the Lead Pastor of Radiance Christian Church in San Francisco.  Andy is a graduate of Northwestern University (B.S.) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“How Shark Tank and God Are Different”

Hebrews 4:16

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 

The hit TV show “Shark Tank” has tested the confidence and abilities of many entrepreneurs. The premise of the show is that individuals would pitch their ideas and business models to a group of successful investors. Many of these individuals have prepared their entire lives for this moment, hoping that their innovation will impress the investors.  They are then questioned, tested, and scrutinized—but afterwards, many are left with their dreams shattered (probably the reason for the show’s name). It is a brutal process, but this is work. For us students, it’s a lot like taking a test. The amount you prepare and study will determine your confidence going into the test; but even then, you may not get the results you want. Regardless of how much effort you put into it, the output or the product is how we are measured. 

Thankfully, this is not the case when it comes to approaching God. The writer in this passage speaks to a confidence that the believer holds when approaching God’s throne. Contrary to the world, our confidence does not lie in our work or even our abilities. Rather, our confidence stems from the finished work of Christ; and upon Christ’s finished work we are judged. This attitude is not one of pride but of humble reverence for God, for we are able to enter His presence with freedom and without the fear of condemnation. For many of us, approaching God is difficult because we feel unworthy or even unprepared to come to Him. At the core of these excuses are two misunderstandings: First, that we can approach Him based on our works; or second, that Christ’ work is not sufficient for us. The throne that God chooses to sit on is not of just power and glory but of grace. It is in this grace that we are accepted into His chambers, where God provides for even our smallest needs. May we not be deceived by the enemy by turning to our own abilities and effort or think that we are not worthy enough to come to Him. Instead, through the dwelling of Christ in our hearts, may we receive the measure of all the fullness of God! (Eph 3:19). 

Spend some time reflecting on your attitude when you enter into His presence. Do you go straight into a laundry list of items to pray about? Do you feel disconnected from Him at times? If so, may this passage remind us that we come to the Father through Christ alone, and we can come to Him in complete freedom without fear.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your grace. We confess that we are unworthy, and many times we come to You with wrong motivations. Yet we look to Jesus Christ who made a way for us. Help us to never depend on our abilities but to fully trust in You. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 16

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provide by Pastor Peter Yoon of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego, was first posted on October 16, 2016. Peter is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“God Is Better!”

John 20:30-31

Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

I recently read a statement in a book that said, “The God who created you is better than the god you created.” I thought it was catchy. Definitely true! 

There are many topics that float around in our minds all day long; I’m certain that “God” is one of those topics.  But have you ever wondered how well-informed you are about who God really is? Do you ever wonder if any of our thoughts, opinions, and even conclusions about God are consistent to the Bible?

One common misconception has been mentioned by preachers in jest: “Please turn to Hezekiah 6:5 – God helps those who help themselves.” Of course, we know that there is no “Book of Hezekiah” in the Bible; nor does the Bible paint a picture of a God who only helps those who make efforts to help themselves. Perhaps, such thoughts and other views like it have found their way into our private theological systems. While they do not serve us in our faith, they can certainly impede our spiritual growth. 

The apostle John writes that he took the time to carefully author his gospel (inspired by the Holy Spirit) so that the readers may believe that Jesus is the Messiah and gain life in His name. John, along with the many disciples, had found life in recognizing Jesus as the Lamb of God, the Savior of the World. They discovered that everything he did and taught changed and transformed their perception of the reality: individuals were healed, families were restored, new communities lived according to a new set of values, and the gospel continued to extend to the nations. 

It is a remarkable statement to believe that faith in a man who walked the earth 2000 years ago would be the only source of true life for all people. But the testimonies of Jesus, as it has been faithfully preached and taught, continues to give life to people today. 

If you haven’t already done so, consider downloading an app on your phone that allows you to read God’s word throughout the year. Here’s my favorite: 

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/bible-in-one-year/id504133402?mt=8

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.multipie.bibleinoneyear&hl=en_GB

And may the words captured in our Bible guide you toward faith in Jesus that leads you to attain life that only He can impart: a meaningful life in the present and eternal life thereafter.    

Prayer: Lord, help me to discard the god I have made; instead, help me to worship and obey the God who created me. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 14-15

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Andrew Kim, was originally posted on June 16, 2017.  Andrew is presently pastoring Alive Church in Montreal.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“What Will Make Us Stand Before God?” 

Revelation 7:1-4 

“After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” 4 And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel” 

Throughout the book of Revelation, there are interludes that occur between descriptions of God’s judgment that are meant to console the persecuted Christians. Here in our passage for today, we find ourselves at the first interlude. As the opened seals reveal the wrath of God, chapter 6 ends with a piercing question that chapter 7 answers: “Who can stand before the divine judgment?” We find the answer in verse 3. The only ones who will not be harmed will be those who are sealed by God. In ancient times, seals were used by kings to designate those who belonged to them. Other religions used seals as a marker of devotion to their gods. Similarly, those who are sealed by God are those who belong to Him. Later on we find out that the seal is given to those who have been washed by the blood of the Lamb. In other words, those who have believed upon the gospel are the only ones who are able to withstand the judgment of God. 

This is good news for all of us. It won’t be our track record, our good works, or how much time we’ve spent at church that will determine whether or not we are able to stand before God. What will allow us to stand confidently in the period of judgment is the assurance we’ve received from the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this reason, we do not have to be afraid of God’s wrath or where our eternal destiny will be. God has sealed us by the blood of the Lamb. We bear the mark that proclaims that we belong to His kingdom- protected by His grace and mercy. Nothing will be able to remove God’s seal over us. Today, let us reflect on this marvelous truth, walking confidently in our relationship with God! 

Prayer: Father, thank you for your gospel and the assurance it gives me. Help me to walk securely and confidently in your love! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 13

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Lunch Break Study 

Read Ephesians 2:1-10: “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Questions to Consider

1. What was the state of our being before Christ? 
2. On what basis are we saved? 
3. Do you feel secure in God’s love for you? 

Notes 

1. We were dead in our sins and trespasses. It is important to recognize that we were not simply neutral towards God, but it says that we followed the prince of the power of the air and that we were children of wrath. In other words, we were against God and His ways. Our goal was simply to fulfill the desires of our flesh. 
2. We are saved by grace through faith- not by the works we do. The faith that we received is not something we work towards but a gift from God. 
3. Personal response 

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Evening Reflection 

Oftentimes we revert back to basing our relationship with God on our performance. We feel secure in God’s love when we are doing well, but not so much when we fall into sin. Take some time before going to sleep to reflect on your relationship with God. Are you living your life in response to God’s grace or are you working to be loved by God? 

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Christine Li, was first posted on February 16, 2017. Christine, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“An Antidote for the Daily Grind”

1 Corinthians 3:16 

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?

How much money are you willing to spend on an article of clothing? I know people who will spend only $10, to others who are willing to spend hundreds at a time. How about $4.8 million? That’s how much one of Marilyn Monroe’s dresses auctioned off for last fall. When asked whether the price was justified, the representative of the buying company answered that they did believe the dress to be so valuable – it was the “most iconic piece of pop culture.” At the end of the day, it is only a dress, but its brief encounter with splendor and fame made it so much more valuable and special.

There is an idea here from Paul: God, the most wonderful and beautiful entity the world has ever known, has chosen to make His dwelling place among us. He does not just choose to be among the people with exciting jobs, celebrity friends, and nice vacations. Instead, God, who dwells in Heaven, willingly sends His Spirit to all believers – yes, us! Us with our common, normal, sometimes-boring habits. 

To be honest, the more days I work, the more often I have found myself falling into the trap of the “daily grind” mentality, ending my evenings wondering, Lord, was that really Your best plan for me today? There are days that seem to lack something meaningful. Perhaps, it would do me (and all of us) well to reflect seriously on the truth that God’s Spirit is being carried by me all the day long. Indeed, God spends the entire day with me, from reading Excel spreadsheets, to eating lunch at the desk, to riding the bus home. 

Do you also have trouble getting through the long stretch? Let’s not settle for passing excitement that comes from the next episode of a show, the upcoming weekend, or fun plans that would liven up our days. We have the privilege of hosting the Lord of hosts—all the day long! Every moment and action could be filled with the potential of something exciting simply because He is now on the scene. So let’s ask to become more sensitive to His presence and that we will find His glory all around us. He is always listening and always with us, so even today we may discover something new in our routines.

Prayer: Father, remind me once again that this life with You is an excellent and exciting one. Don’t let me limit what I can experience of You in my daily living. Won’t you give me freshness and newness in my daily life so I can honor You fully and be aware of what You are doing? Give me eyes to truly see how You are working all around me. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 12

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Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 8:6-11: The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Questions to Consider

1. Paul writes about the difference between those of the flesh and those of the Spirit. What are the marks of believers? 
2. What are the “powers” that we gain through the Spirit of God? 
3. This passage puts very little emphasis on what we are able to do; everything is governed and done by the Spirit. What does that say about our role in our spiritual life?

Notes

1. The Sunday School answer would be that a believer has the Spirit of Christ. Paul says that those of the Spirit live in harmony with God, but those of the flesh are at odds with God, unable to please Him.
2. The benefits we receive in being a believer are the ability to be fully reconciled to God and to live eternally with Him. Paul says that the Spirit that raised the dead to life dwells within us – that is an immense amount of power residing within us that we have access to!
3. Everything is stated as a result of being ”governed by the Spirit” or because the Spirit is ”in you.” It emphasizes that we bring nothing to the table of our salvation and our sanctification; all of this is done and accomplished by the work of God in our lives. Because He is able and He makes His dwelling among us, this should fill us with confidence that He will carry out His transformative work in our lives!

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Evening Reflection 

How was your day? Did it help to become a little more aware of God’s presence around you? Or, maybe, if you were unaware, take some time to think about where He was throughout the day. Let’s ask Him to give us more sensitivity tomorrow and every other day to see what He is doing all around us.

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on April 12, 2017, is written by Pastor David Son who pastors the Thrive Church in Taipei.  He is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley (BA) and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Stay up to date with the church by following them here: https://www.instagram.com/thrivechurchtaipei/

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Most ‘Wasteful’ Gift”

Mark 14:3-9

And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

Historians say the most expensive gift ever given in the history of mankind is the Taj Mahal. The Taj, located in India, was commissioned by Shah Jahan to be built in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It took 22 years, 20,000 laborers, and 32 million rupees (that’s around 1 billion US dollars if you convert and factor in inflation) to construct this monumental project. As beautiful and inspiring as the Taj Majal is, most of us would agree that the gesture was extremely wasteful. Think about how much you could do with 20,000 laborers in 22 years, with 1 billion dollars. And the Shah used all that to express his love for his deceased wife by constructing a building that has very little functional value. What a waste! 

Those were the kinds of thoughts that enraged the onlookers of this dramatic scene from Mark 14. As the woman poured out 300 denarii (a year’s salary) worth of ointment upon Jesus’ feet, those who were nearby couldn’t help but be frustrated at the wasteful, inefficient nature of this woman’s offering. But what they failed to understand, and what we often forget, is that love is wasteful. When we genuinely express love to someone, it isn’t calculated, it isn’t necessarily efficient; in fact it’s often wasteful. No one understood this better than Jesus.

Historians got it wrong. The most expensive gift ever given in the history of mankind was not the Taj Majal; it was the life of Jesus Christ. A few days after the woman poured the ointment on Jesus’ feet, God paid our ransom by offering Jesus on the cross. He is the most wasteful giver of all time!

In your love for God, and your love for people, have you been wastefully loving? Or is your love always calculated and efficient? Today, let’s look for opportunities to love God and love one another genuinely, even wastefully.

Prayer: God, teach us how to give as You gave and to love as You loved—even if it means being inefficient for a time, or even being wasteful with our time, energy, and resources. Free us from anxieties and worries, which often inhibit us from loving wastefully. Thank You that You gave us the greatest gift of all in your Son, Jesus, and for sending Your Holy Spirit to be with us. In Jesus’ name I pray.

Bible Reading for Today: Proverb 11

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Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 11:9-13: And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Questions to Consider

1. According to this passage, what must we do in order to receive from God?
2. How can we trust that God would so easily give us good gifts?
3. What gift is the heavenly Father so eager to give to us?

Notes

1. The passage makes it clear that all we must do is ask! “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find….” Even though we know this is in Scripture, we aren’t used to this because the world doesn’t really function this way. We usually have to work and earn every other good thing we have. Consequently, this promise is easy to learn but hard to practice! 
2. Simply asking and receiving seems like too good of an offer to be true. How can we know that this is true? To help us understand, Jesus points to our earthly fathers. Even though they aren’t perfect, we can trust that most fathers know how to take care of their children and give them good gifts. In the same way, God is our Heavenly Father, and we can trust Him (even more than our earthly fathers) to give us good gifts when we simply ask.
3. Some interpret this passage to mean that God would give us anything we ask for. And while we can certainly ask Him for anything, this passage is quite clear that the primary gift that God has in store for His children is the Holy Spirit. He knows that more than anything else, the Holy Spirit is the best and most crucial gift for us!

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Evening Reflection

The most famous passage about receiving the Holy Spirit is from Acts 2, when the disciples were waiting, longing for the Holy Spirit to come, and He indeed comes. Consequently, we often think that we have to be in a certain spiritual state in order to be filled with the Spirit. But the book of Acts is filled with other instances of people being filled with the Spirit: those who knew nothing about the Spirit but just asked (Acts 19:1-6), one who was hostile towards God (Acts 9:17-20), and even Gentiles (Acts 10)! 

Regardless of what “spiritual condition” you are in right now, ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit!

This blog by Pastor Ryun was originally posted on January 9, 2017.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Those Who Go Back for Reasons the World Will Never Understand”

Ezra 1:2-5 (ESV)

“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: . . . 3 ‘Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.’ 5 Then rose up the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem.”

 I first met Jaime Echaveste, a middle-aged man and a father of four children, in the mid-2000s when I spoke to a Hispanic congregation in Southern California.  That day, I talked about how God told the Israelites, exiled in Babylonia and Persia for nearly 70 years, to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Lord’s temple that had been destroyed.  I noted that those who returned possessed two things that they didn’t when they were first taken to Babylonia: faith and money.

First, it was because of Israel’s faithlessness, “hav[ing] turned away from [God’s] commands and laws” (Dan. 9:5), that God allowed her to “become a desolate wasteland” (Jer. 25:11).  Yet, it was during the captivity that the Israelites returned to God, weeping and longing to “sing the songs of the LORD” (Ps. 137:4); their faith in God had been renewed.  

Second, whereas they came to Babylonia with nothing in their pockets, they now possessed plenty of gold and silver.  Unlike the Israelites enslaved in Egypt, the Jews in Babylonia were allowed to carve out a decent living; in fact, these returnees shelled out about $20 million worth of gold toward the rebuilding of the temple (Ezra 2:69).

Against the backdrop of this narrative, I pointed out to my audience, made up mostly of Mexican immigrants, how they first came to the U.S. without faith and money, but now they have both: faith in Christ and more money than they ever had, just like the Jews exiled in Babylonia.   At that moment, after reading Ezra 1:5—“Everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem”—I challenged my Mexican brothers and sisters, saying, “Return to your country and rebuild it with the gospel and the money the Lord gave you.”  Although some shouted, “Amen,” I wasn’t entirely sure whether they really heard what was said, but Jamie certainly heard.  After the service, he shared with me how the Lord told him to return to his homeland in Jalisco, Mexico, to preach the gospel.  In a later newsletter, he wrote, “On Monday we said goodbye to our home of 15 years. It was painful for some of us, yet we know that God is the One who is directing our life, Amen.”

Some people will never understand why anyone would leave the comforts of an American lifestyle to serve in parts of Mexico that are exceedingly dangerous and unreceptive to the gospel.   Are you one of them?  Listen—don’t buy the hype that living in America is the ultimate high; it is not, but serving the Lord is.  Whether you are an immigrant or not, pray about going to somewhere in this world where what little we know and possess can be stretched to bless hundreds and thousands of people who do not know Christ.

Prayer: Lord, I’m so thankful that You became a man to bear our sins so that Your death on the cross could be the perfect atonement for us.  What, then, could we not do for Your sake?  May the gospel and the wealth that You gave us be reinvested into the rebuilding of broken lives in this world.  We pray for Jaime and his family that their labor of love may result in abundant harvests in Mexico.  Please protect and provide for them, especially the children.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 10

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Lunch Break Study

Read Jeremiah 29:10-4 (NIV): “This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Questions to Consider

1. Why do you think Jeremiah 29:11 is one of the most quoted verses by evangelicals?

2. Since these once “poverty-stricken” Jewish exiles in Babylonia had amassed enough gold to contribute 20 million dollars worth of it to the rebuilding of the temple, what is one key purpose behind God’s blessing and favor in our lives?  

3. Based on how you have been managing your wealth, does your life agree with your response to question 2?  

Note

1. Without any consideration to the context of Jeremiah 29, this verse can easily be construed as God wanting to prosper us materially, and we simply enjoying it.  No wonder we love it!

2. Evidently, wealth was given to these Jews so that, besides enjoying it, it could be used to rebuild the temple.  1 Timothy 6:17 says, “Put [your] hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. . .. Do good, . . . be rich in good deeds, . . .be generous and willing to share.”

3. Personal response

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Evening Reflection

You are likely a child or grandchild of immigrants.  Would you say you are better off economically and even spiritually (e.g., having more knowledge about the Bible, for instance) than they?  What are you doing with what has been given to you to better the spiritual and physical lives of others?  Would you give it some thought and prayer; perhaps, it is the time for you to make a decision like the one made by Jaime Echaveste who continues to serve in Mexico. 

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was first posted on February 6, 2016.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Living With Purpose”

Hebrews 7:23-28

Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I never skip an opportunity to draw attention to the salutations in Paul’s letters. They are some of my favorite parts in all his writings, because they are usually so loaded with theological significance and remind us of the importance of identity. Our identity is the source and foundation for all we say and do. And as believers, remembering who we are in Christ is imperative to not only living as Kingdom People but also to doing Kingdom work. In today’s passage, Paul reminds us that we are sanctified by the blood of Jesus, knitted together as one family, and given a calling (as saints, and more specifically for Paul, as an apostle)! Being called God’s own people gives us a glorious identity and purpose. 

My small group is going through Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life together, where we are exploring the question, “What on earth am I here for?” During the first week’s readings (there is a short chapter to read each day) I was reminded just how easy it is for me to go through any given day without giving much thought to who I really am and what I’m here to do. Identity and purpose go hand and hand and both require intentionality. Living into my true identity as a child of God and living out my God-given purpose won’t happen incidentally or accidentally (or as Pastor Rick would say – The only way to live with purpose is on purpose).

How often do you think about who you are and what you’re here to do? I was challenged recently to start each day with intentionality by reminding myself every morning of who I am and what I’m on earth to do. You should try it! As we do this over and over, we learn to lean into all that it means to be a child of God and are empowered to make the most of every opportunity to do Kingdom work in the community around us. 

Prayer: Lord, thank You for calling me Your own through the finished work of Jesus. Thank you for giving me a purpose and allowing me to participate in bringing forth Your Kingdom. Help me today to walk more fully in my identity as Your child and to live out more intentionally Your purposes for my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 9

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Lunch Break Study

Read John 10:13-21: Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Questions to Consider

1. In what ways does Paul remind us of the importance of being intentional with how we live each day? 
2. On what foundation is Paul encouraging us to carry out his instructions in this passage(vv. 17-18)? Why is this important to keep in mind? 
3. What might it look like for you personally to put this passage into practice in your life? What is one practical step you can take today toward that end? 

Notes

1. Paul encourages us to prepare (our minds for actions), to be sober-minded, and to set our hope fully on the grace of Christ. All these things are actions that require intentionality. They won’t just happen on their own. 
2. Paul reminds us that we are God’s own children and that we were ransomed by the precious and imperishable blood of Jesus Christ. This identity has to be at the foundation of all we do. If we forget it, we will quickly lose sight of our purpose and lack the power to complete our mission. 
3. Spend some time in personal reflection. 

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Evening Reflection

“I’ve always wanted to be somebody, but I see now I should have been more specific.”

(Lily Tomlin in The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, by Jane Wagner) 

If we’re not careful to remember our God-given identity and purpose, we’ll end up becoming someone entirely different and doing things that in the end leave us feeling unfulfilled. 

Have you ever lost sight of your identity in Christ? Have you ever lost sight of the mission of God in your life? What was the result?

Spend some time articulating in your own words your identity and purpose as you understand them from Scripture. (e.g. I am [fill in the blank] and I am here to [fill in the blank].) Write it down somewhere and return to it often so you can be sure to live each day with purpose. 

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Christine Li, was first posted on November 20, 2016. Christine, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“When Faced with Trouble Times”

Psalm 23:1-4

 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

In college, after late nights of studying (or, according to our pastors, just hanging out), our church brothers would walk the sisters home to ensure that we made it home safely. I lived less than two blocks away from where we used to study; there probably would have been very little danger going home alone, but it was still a very nice favor. Now, as a more-grown person living far from my friends, getting home in the evenings can feel a lot less safe. I appreciate those memories more than ever – what a difference an extra presence can make in a dark situation!

As believers, we know that we will encounter troubling times and situations in this life. We might feel isolated or bereft at work and school; some of us even feel as though we face physical danger. Our instinct is often to look around and identify our support system – friends, teachers, loved ones – in hopes that they will support and protect us. There is no doubt that their appearance can be reassuring and comforting. 

God’s word reminds us, also, that in every situation, we can be most comforted by His steadfast and faithful presence. Though He may not feel like a tangible presence, we know that we do carry His spirit with us wherever we go. Therefore, we can trust that whether we are in the valley of the shadow of death or in green pastures, the Good Shepherd is with us every step of the way. 

On Sundays, we gather as believers to worship, and we should strengthen each other for the mission we are on the remainder of the week. Let’s encourage one another to be secure in His presence for all we face. We can remind each other that God is not far-removed from our lives; instead, He is present, attentive, and active in every situation. Let’s praise Him together for being Emmanuel – God with us – and take heart that, though He sends us into the world, He is the one who leads us on and protects us. 

Prayer: Father, thank You for being Emmanuel – God with us. We know that when we are with You, we have nothing to fear. No matter where or how You lead us this week, give us faith to trust You. Please remove all fears and doubts, and flood our hearts with the peace that You bring once again.

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 8

REPOSTToday’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on October 29, 2016, is provided by Andy Kim who is the Lead Pastor of Radiance Christian Church in San Francisco.  Andy is a graduate of Northwestern University (B.S.) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“When Faced With Suffering”

Hebrews 4:14-15

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

One of the worst conversations I’ve had involved my friend, a resident at a local shelter, and me. To give you some context, my friend and I grew up in a middle class suburb, attending our local youth group every Sunday. The conversation started out well, until we began sharing our lives with one another. As the man shared his story, we stood speechless at how he was abandoned at a young age, felt that he had no choice but to turn to drugs, and now ostracized by society. In that moment of silence, my friend regrettably blurted out, “I know how you feel.” But before he could explain himself, the man responded by asking how a privileged kid, dressed in Abercrombie, could ever understand what it’s like to lose everything and now become a victim of society. He was right—we would never even come close to understanding him.

When suffering comes our way, we tell ourselves that no one would ever understand and often times take on a victim mentality. But we see that Jesus has every right to say that He not only understands, but that He Himself has also gone through it. Where we have all failed, Jesus was able to overcome the temptations of the world, proving Himself blameless before the Father. Christ chose to be like us, to take on the form of our weak flesh, and face the pressures of sin so that we may trust in Him. In this way, we know that we can put our full trust in Christ, because He went through far greater than we can endure. 

I wish we could go back to that conversation with that man and share with him about the sufferings of Christ for our sake—how Christ came down to earth, bearing our griefs and carried our sorrows; smitten by God, and afflicted; pierced and crushed for our iniquities so that by his wounds we may be healed and enter into His peace (Isaiah 53).Rather than dismissing our pain, as many have, Christ invites us to give that pain to Him; and in return, He gives us His strength and righteousness. I praise God that in my trials and temptations, I do not stand alone, for He is with me. I praise God that He has conquered sin and that nothing can separate me from the love of the Father—not even death itself. For in Christ, we are not victims of this world, but victors. 

Spend some time simply meditating on the good news of Christ. May this truth empower us and encourage us to persevere in our journey with Him. Many of us have struggles and sins that we have yet to overcome. Yet Christ does not stand simply at the finish line but takes every step with us, so that we may find our victory in Him.  

Prayer: Jesus, thank You that you do not leave us as victims to our sufferings, but You make us conquerors. We confess that we are weak, and there areas in our lives we have yet to surrender. However, we hold on to the promise that in our weakness, You are strong and that Your grace is sufficient for us. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 6-7

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional QT, provided by Pastor Charles Choe who leads Tapestry Church in Los Angeles, was first posted on May 5, 2017.  Charles is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“It’s Not Fair”

2 Corinthians 8:8-15

“Your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.” (verse 14)

As a father of three children, I am no stranger to my kids arguing and fighting over fairness. In fact, with the older two, there is no greater injustice than a smaller piece of cake, one less scoop of ice cream, or one of them going to sleep ten minutes later.  It must be exactly the same—  always even steven.

Fairness is an important concept to us. Here, in our passage today, Paul reminds the Corinthians why they were collecting money: to help fellow brothers and sisters who were struggling through a famine in Judea. It was not so that the Judean churches could experience relief to the detriment of the Corinthian church, but rather that there should be a proper balance between them. Paul insinuates that there will be a time when the tables will be turned and they may be the ones needing the aid.  

As part of Paul’s argument, he invokes a concrete and historical example. In verse 15, Paul reminds the Corinthians of the time in Israel’s history when God sustained His people in the desert with the manna (Exodus 16). Though some collected much and others relatively little, when the daily portion was distributed, no one had either too little or too much.

The principle that the wealthy should give to the poor is a challenge to the modern listener. It violates one of our most sacred beliefs—the principle of self-reliance. Paul is not talking about the need for a stronger work ethic, nor is he making a case for socialism over capitalism. He does not want anyone to give out of compulsion, as he says, “I do not say this as a command” (2 Cor. 8:8). 

Paul is simply talking about helping hurting people. He explains that we need to be generous, primarily because God was generous with us: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). This could only make sense if we heed Paul, who says, Christians are “slaves for Jesus’ sake” (2 Cor. 5:4). If this is true, it means that everything we own belongs to God. And that we must remain open to sharing with those in need, even if it means less for us to spend on ourselves. In the end, it is only “fair” to share with others in need in light of the sacrifice Jesus made for us. May that be your motivation for your generosity—the gospel! 

Prayer: God, teach me to be generous as You were to me. Increase my capacity to give, both of money and time to those who are in need. Give me a greater understanding of the gospel, what You did on the cross on my behalf, so that giving to those who are hurting becomes an increasingly joyful action. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 5

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Lunch Break Study  

Read Exodus 36:1-7: “Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the LORD has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the LORD has commanded.”  2 And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the LORD had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work.

3 And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning, 

4 so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing,  5 and said to Moses, “The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the LORD has commanded us to do.” 6 So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing, 

7 for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more.

Questions to Consider

1. Besides doing the work people are gifted in, what is the other theme that emerges from this story?  

2. This passage describes the time during the construction of the very first sanctuary for the people of Israel—a special moment for God’s people. What kind of offering was given to build the sanctuary?  

3. Have you given generously to building God’s church?  

Notes

1. Generous people give more than they are asked to give. 

2. According to verse 3, it was a “freewill offering”—meaning, there was no compulsion, but a sense of joy and privilege that accompanied the giving.  

3. Personal response.

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Evening Reflection

“God bestows His blessings without discrimination. The followers of Jesus are children of God, and they should manifest the family likeness by doing good to all, even to those who deserve the opposite.” – F.F. Bruce