January 23, Tuesday

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

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

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.

January 22, Monday

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

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

In what ways does Paul remind us of the importance of being intentional with how we live each day?
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?
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

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.
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.
Spend some time in personal reflection.

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.

January 21, Sunday

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

January 20, Saturday

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

January 19, Friday

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

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.

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

January 18, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional QT, first posted on March 9, 2017, is provided by Pastor Mark Chun through whom God founded the Radiance Christian Church (S.F.) in 2012. Mark, after stepping down as its Lead Pastor in January of 2023 and a year of sabbatical that followed, just returned to Radiance as a staff.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“What Makes My Life Significant in the Eyes of God?”

1 Corinthians 7:29-40 (NIV)

What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. 32 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife—34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord. 36 If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. 37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. 38 So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better. 39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. 40 In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

It is the wise person who asks the question, “What makes my life significant in the eyes of God, and what will I ultimately be rewarded for when I stand before the Lord?” We live in an area that is driven by metrics and analytics, and everyone in our church seems to be consumed by measurable results. But what does God consider a win? Unfortunately, it’s difficult to quantify spiritual success, because God’s scoreboard is different than ours.

There are many things that God will evaluate as a measure of our significance. He will look at the health of our marriages, how we raise our children, and how we conduct our friendships. He will even consider our career success, and how we earn and spend our money. But all of these things will pale in comparison to our impact on the lives of the lost and hurting. Proverbs 11:30 teaches us that “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life and he who is wise wins souls.”

In the past year, if you have not touched the life of another person who is in need of the gospel, you have not fulfilled one of your primary duties as a follower of Christ. We all have a number of callings in our lives. We are called to be husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, teachers, doctors, employees; but all of these callings are subordinate to our primary call to follow Christ and to be engaged in His mission to share His gospel to the world. Unfortunately, we often invert our priorities and live with divided devotions to God. For some, we will be limited by our responsibilities to our family, but we must still make God’s kingdom our priority. God’s desire for all of us is that we would live fully devoted lives for Him, whether we are married or single.

Prayer: Father, I confess that my devotion can be divided by many things. Some of these responsibilities are necessary and part of Your will for my life. Help me to be the best spouse or parent that I possibly can be, but in seasons give me the faith to live with single-minded devotion, entrusting the welfare of our loved ones to you, so that I can serve You without reservation. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 4

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 6:25-34: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Questions to Consider:

Why does Jesus tell us not to worry?
What does it mean to seek God’s kingdom first?
How does seeking God’s kingdom help with the problem of worry?

Notes:

Jesus tells us not to worry, based on the fact that His Father takes cares of the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. If He would take care of His lesser creations, how much more would He take care of us.
The true people of God understand the innate beauty of God’s glory and know that their well-being is secondary in terms of its importance. There are too many Christians who do not live a God entranced life, but they live a self-absorbed life. The question on their heart isn’t what can I do to please God and how can I better glorify Him, but rather they are consumed by how God can please them and make their lives more enjoyable. In making this critical mistake, these people never find the pleasure and enjoyment of life that they are looking for, because pleasure and joy come when God is pleased with us and when we seek His kingdom
The command to seek the kingdom is found in the greater context of Jesus’ command for us not to worry. Jesus teaches us not to worry about the food that we will eat, the clothes that we will wear, the graduate school that we will get into, or the success of our career. These needs are secondary in terms of their importance, and they will be given to us when we attend to the greater priority of God’s kingdom. The Scriptures are absolutely clear on the importance of the Kingdom of God, and every Christian needs to know the infinite value of God’s kingdom and the necessity of buying completely into it.

Evening Reflection

Think about the ways in which you worry and allow anxiety to fill your heart. Is this because you are not seeking God’s purpose and plan? Pray to the Lord that He would calm your anxious heart and fill you with the peace that surpasses all understanding.

January 17, Wednesday

UPDATED Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 6, 2017.

Devotional Thoughts for This Morning

“What Life is like for Those Human Beings Who Have Crossed the Border Illegally”

Heb. 11:13^b-14, 16 (NIV)

And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. . . 16 They were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.

In February of 2016, just before my greyhound bus left for Bakersfield from Los Angeles, I was told that my connection bus, which would have taken me to the small city where I was scheduled to preach the next day, was cancelled. I quickly called the host pastor, who was returning from a conference in Nevada, to see if he could pick me up. Fortunately, I only waited an hour before the pastor, along with his congregant (“Hugo”) whom I met the year before during my first visit there, arrived to collect me.

Later, we dropped off Hugo at his weather-beaten, single-story house; he seemed eager to get home, mostly because his wife just had their second child.

In my ensuing conversation with the host pastor, I was surprised to find out that Hugo, who speaks English well and doesn’t have many Hispanic features, was originally from Mexico. And I also learned that Hugo and his wife, after having crossed the border illegally nearly 20 years ago, have lived here ever since. Constantly living in fear of deportation, the only jobs Hugo can find consist of backbreaking farm work that pay just enough to fund a small mortgage and put food on the table. I also discovered that many in this community are in the same predicament: always anxious, suspicious of new people, and stuck in dead-end jobs. I’m not exactly a bleeding-heart liberal, but my heart went out for them all.

So, what do you, as a theological conservative who does not support illegal immigration, say to them from the pulpit (which I did the next day)? I didn’t tell them to go home because this is, in effect, their home. There are border patrol agents whose job is to enforce immigration laws and we shouldn’t stand in their ways; but my call as a minister of the gospel is wholly different. Whenever I get to share God’s Word before Hispanic congregations in America, I remind them of this: “We have all have made mistakes, but God forgives us in Christ. If God has so convicted you, you can return home and share the gospel with your families and friends most of whom are steeped in syncretistic Catholicism. And whenever you feel fearful, ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus’” (Phi. 4:7-8).

Now, there is one scriptural teaching that Hugo needs no reminder of; in fact, he may be way ahead of us: “He made his home . . . like a stranger in a foreign country. . .. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Heb. 11:10). But, for us, because life in America is so comfortable, we live as if this is our destination. May we, like Hugo, “admit[] that [we] are aliens and strangers on earth” (v. 13). Let us then live and serve the Lord accordingly all the while “longing for a better country—a heavenly one” (v. 16).

Hugo was always attentive whenever I taught. His pastor was counting on him to step up to leadership and he seemed excited about the opportunity. So, I prayed for him, calling upon the Lord to prepare Hugo for fruitful labor that would bring true hope in Christ to those who live with fear in his community.

Prayer: Lord, while we may pity those who face a bleak future, doing difficult work to make a living, perhaps it’s us who are to be pitied, since we see life in America as heaven and death as an interruption. Please heal our spiritual blindness so that we may live for God wholeheartedly. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 3

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Peter 2:11-2 (NIV): Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Questions to Consider

1. According to Peter, in what sense are we to be aliens and strangers in the world?

2. As aliens and strangers, what proactive things does Peter command us to do?

3. Most of us don’t think much about the plights of illegal aliens. Now, while there are some in this group, like in a larger society, who are difficult to embrace (e.g., criminals), most of them came here illegally for the same reason most of our ancestors came legally—to provide a better life for their children. As aliens in this world, what would it mean to live such good lives among them?

Notes

1. We are to distinguish ourselves from the ways of the world: unethical manners in which businesses are conducted, immoral ways in which pleasures are pursued, heartless treatment of those who are deemed expendable and unimportant.

2. While retreating from the ways of the world, we are also told to move forward to distinguish ourselves as aliens and strangers in the world, living good lives among the unbelievers and producing good deeds that would glorify God.

3. Let’s suppose that you hired a person as a day-laborer, whom you guessed to be an illegal alien, to work in your yard. In that context, living such good lives would mean paying him a fair wage. What do you think (James 5:1-6)?

Evening Reflection

We began the morning devotional talking about the fears of illegal aliens, especially those who have lived in the States for a long time. Let’s not kid ourselves—we ourselves have plenty of fears of being found out. Perhaps you’ve heard of the impostor syndrome—it’s when people believe their achievements are fraudulent, which causes them to fear that one day, others might learn of their incompetence. What fears do you secretly harbor? I invite you to go to the Lord right now for a fast and long-lasting relief; and don’t be afraid to be vulnerable with those who are trustworthy and truly care about you. Pray.

January 16, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Jabez Yeo who is now a friend of AMI, was first posted on February 21, 2017. He is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (B.S.) and Columbia International University where he studied Islam (M.A.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Orphans Through Our Tongues”

Galatians 4:6-7

Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Oftentimes, the greatest dangers appear to be innocent on the surface level. For example, suppose we were swimming in the ocean and saw a tiny black speck moving back and forth. From a distance, we may assume it to be harmless, perhaps a piece of driftwood. But if we were swimming right next to it, we would see that the black speck is really a fin, and what lies beneath is a gigantic killer shark.

As Christians, our tongues are those tiny fins that reveal the dangerous beliefs in our hearts. Suppose, for example, all of us were to avoid the following for a week: gossiping, complaining, criticizing, blame-shifting, defending ourselves, boasting and deceiving others. I think it’s safe to say that all of us wouldn’t get through a day without doing one of those things. Yet Jesus Himself declared in Matthew 12:34-35, “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.”

By daily engaging in such things, we show ourselves to be spiritual orphans and reveal whom we are truly committed to: ourselves. The misuse of our tongues displays our lack of trust in God and that we are His children. For example, when we blame-shift or make excuses, we show our unbelief that God is in control and protecting us. When we complain, we reveal our belief that God is not running the world correctly. When we boast in ourselves, we declare our belief that we accomplish through our strength alone. When we defend ourselves or cannot sincerely apologize, we show our lack of trust that Christ’s righteousness is ours, and our belief that we need a good record of performance before others.

The full implications of this may be too much to bear. Thankfully, because of God’s mercy, He gives us the power to be like Him. Let’s pray that the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing to Him (Psalm 19:14).

Prayer: Father, forgive me for using my mouth to say hurtful things to and about others. Even worse, forgive me for irreverent and untrue things I have said about You in moments of anger and frustration. Help me to rein in my tongue under the Spirit’s guidance so that it is used to glorify your Son. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Genesis 3:9-13: But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” 11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Questions to Consider

What misuse of the tongue do we see immediately after the first sin?
What do these things ultimately reveal?
Which tendency to misuse the tongue is most common in your life?

Notes

1. Blame-shifting (e.g. it was the woman, it was the serpent) and defending oneself. There could also be some hint of criticism and deception (not the full truth was told).

2. Adam and Eve were seeking their own righteousness instead of admitting their guilt. Sin brings enmity and disunity through the false belief that we are the most important beings in the universe.

3. Personal response (e.g. gossiping, being too critical of people, lying, etc.)

Evening Reflection

While our tongues can bring incredible harm, they can also bring life (Prov. 18:21). Is there someone in your life that you can speak a word of encouragement or affirmation to? Ask God to bring that person to mind and talk to him/her after your prayer. You won’t regret doing so.

January 15, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional QT, first posted on April 24, 2017, is provided by Pastor Shan Gian who leads Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan. Shan is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Longing”

2 Corinthians 5:1-2

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling

We are always longing for something greater or better. When we’re kids, we long to grow up, be bigger and taller. When we’re in school, we long to finish and graduate so that we can do something meaningful (or at least get a real job). When we’re working, we long for a better job or better pay, or if nothing else, a great vacation. Even in the mundane things of life, we long for something better. Smartphones are even designed to make us long and wait for a new next text or notification and, of course— the next smartphone. You could say that we are created with this longing for something greater.

Of course it’s important for us to seek contentment, as Paul says that he learned to be content in all circumstances (Philippians 4:11). We should be content and thankful in everything because God is a giver of good gifts and has given us every spiritual blessing; but at the same time, we have to remember that this is not our home. So we should not feel bad if there is dissatisfaction in our hearts and still long for something greater, because we were created to desire for something greater than what we have here, knowing that this world is not our home.

Our dissatisfaction only becomes a problem when the things we are longing for are way too small in comparison to what God has in store for us. We yearn for better relationships, better status in life, more possessions, more vacations, etc. These are not necessarily bad goals and dreams, but they are immeasurably inferior to the house in heaven, the eternal life that God has for us with Him in heaven. It is okay for us to keep striving for something better in our lives, but we must remember that the only path to true satisfaction, contentment and joy is when we long for our home in heaven. Let us strive, then, to not be content with where we are, but let us long for the eternal home we have with God in heaven!

Prayer: Jesus, I thank You because You have prepared a place for me in the Father’s house. While I am thankful for all of the ways that You have blessed me, I pray that I will yearn and long for heaven and eternal life with You this day. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 1

Lunch Break Study

Read Revelation 21:1-4: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Questions to Consider

How would you describe heaven, based on this passage?
What makes heaven a place to be longed for?
How can you long for heaven this day?

Notes

The adjective repeated three times in this passage is “new.” Heaven is described as a place where everything is new and fresh again, and the former things have passed away. We also see that it’s described like a bride adorned for her husband, so heaven is a place of beauty and joy as well. It has to be a place of joy, since there is no more mourning, crying nor pain.
We should long for heaven not only because it is a place of joy, but because it is there that God will be with us; He will dwell with us forever. It is because God is in heaven that we should long to be there.
Personal reflection question.

Evening Reflection

Think about your day today, and consider what was most important to you. Were you seeking satisfaction and contentment from earthly things, or were you seeking and longing for your eternal home in heaven with God? Whatever your answer is, take some time to reflect on heaven, and what an eternity with our God will be like.

January 14, Sunday

REPOSTToday’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Charles Choe who leads Tapestry Church in Los Angeles, was first posted on November 5, 2016. Charles is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“How God Parents Us”

Hebrews 6:9-12

Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. [10] For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. [11] And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, [12] so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

As a parent of three young children, it feels like not a day goes by without me having to correct them on something. Whether they are arguing, complaining, whining, or just demonstrating a poor attitude, they seem to always give me reasons to correct them. I suppose that’s what makes parenting so challenging and, at times, enjoyable.

Our passage reminds me of a parent chiding a child. In Heb.6:4-8, the author has warned his readers about the risk of renouncing their faith in Christ and returning to Judaism. It is a strong word of warning and what they needed to hear. Yet he knows that most of his listeners are doing well, and so not to dishearten them, he offers them a word of affirmation here. He calls them “beloved” (first and the only time in Hebrews), and he tells them, “We are convinced of better things concerning you, that is, things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way” (v. 9).

He doesn’t want the sincere believers to have any misgivings about their salvation, but rather, to realize “the full assurance of hope until the end” (v. 11). So he tells them that he—and even more pointedly, God—sees the proof of salvation in them; that is, by how they live their lives, it’s clear that they are saved. Therefore, he tells them to press on; be diligent in serving Christ, so that they will persist, even while they are being persecuted.

Ultimately, the author is reminding his readers that if you truly love the Lord your God, your faith will be accompanied by diligent, faithful service to God’s people (v. 10). And it is a good reminder for us this day. Consider whether you are truly committed to the Lord by asking, How well am I serving the body of Christ? Am I diligent in my service to the church? Trials and hardships may have caused you to look inward, and perhaps you have been neglecting in gathering together with the saints. If so, ask God to give you the strength to join your community on the next meeting—whether it be a prayer meeting or a fellowship event. As you go about meeting God’s people, ask the Lord to help you focus on others as a demonstration of your love for God. In doing so, your strength will be renewed this day!

Prayer: Lord, please hold me by Your hand and constantly remind me of Your might and power, lest I foolishly assume that I am self-sufficient and autonomous. I know that apart from You, I can do nothing. Help me to be a faithful and diligent servant. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 16