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

January 13, Saturday

UPDATED Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provide by Pastor Peter Yoon of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego, was first posted on October 15, 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

“More of You in My Life This Year”

John 21:25

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

Today’s food for thought shares a few random questions for reflections based on the final passage of the gospel of John.

First of all, this final passage in John leads me to think about death. If you’ve attended funerals, you’ve heard sincere and moving eulogies. Always, they describe the kind of life the deceased led during his/her years as a parent or as a spouse or as a member of a church or the community and so forth. They describe all kinds of good and virtuous impact he/she has had on the family, the church, co-workers, and others. This last statement of John has that ring to it.

So, what will be said of me or you when all is done? Will we have done many things well? How will you live so that you’ve made a meaningful impact for eternal purposes?

Secondly, as John reminds us that Jesus did “many other things as well,” I understand that Jesus did things well because He simply followed what the Father was already doing (John 5:19). All of the works that Jesus accomplished turned out to be good works because He followed in the steps of a good Father.

So, how are you doing in terms of following in the steps of a good Father? Are you engaging in His good works? Where do you see Him at work and extending an invitation to you, especially through your church?

Finally, John comments that there were so many good things Jesus did that no amount of books in our world could record them all. (Such hyperbole may be a literary convention, but in this case it is quite literally true, for there is no limit to the riches that are in Christ Jesus.)*

Here, I imagine the names of people that Jesus touched, healed, taught, and saved. I imagine an immensely thick book about the height of a sequoia tree (hey…my imagination) where the pages are filled with people’s names and family trees, and all of them filled with their own countless stories of how Jesus literally changed their lives. I imagine this book to have names that are written the English alphabet, Latin, Chinese characters, Persian alphabet, and many others. That’s the kind of impact that Jesus has had because He did many things well.

Do you believe that God wants to use you to bring His ministry to the tens, hundreds, thousands of people around your life? Do you know that God wants to use you to bring His glory to the nations? Lord, I want more of You in my life this year.

*The IVP New Testament Commentary Series

Prayer: Lord, use me in 2024. Stretch me like You have never done before. Make me more like Your Son Jesus. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 14-15

January 12, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Christine Li, was first posted on August 3, 2017. Christine, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Masterpieces on Display”

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

In college, three friends and I completed our Senior Design project together. As a team, we spent a lot of effort brainstorming, building, and creating the final product–even using our own money to buy parts and finish it. We were quite proud of our final product. Naturally, that’s what we presented officially to our teachers and classmates: the final product. We never pulled out the simplistic proof-of-concept, the machine parts that burned out, or other rough drafts we had scrapped.

The things we are most proud of, the objects that show our talent, gifts, and skills are the ones we put on display. Isn’t it amazing that God’s word says that we are similar? We are not rough drafts or beings that He would rather hide. We are His handiwork—creations that He has meticulously shaped and created. And God has allowed us to roam around the earth to display His skill and artistry.

Perhaps today you and I don’t feel consider ourselves masterpieces. But the truth is that God, through Jesus Christ, has given each of us the great honor of displaying Him. This should lift up our heads to know that He has dreamed up and given each of us glorious new life, identity, and purpose. We are not forgotten by God, but rather we are His valuable, thoughtful creations.

We are bearing His image today! So, let’s reflect on what it means for us to individually bear His image. It is not meant to inflate our egos—instead, He has our work cut out for us. We each are meant to show the world a different facet of His character and goodness. Today, let’s take time to think about what it means for us to display who our God is and orient our lives around that purpose.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your love for us. How astounding that You have given each person specific purpose. Would You gently show us how You want to use us and help us not to waste our opportunities to display who You are. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 13

Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 2:12-18:Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.”

Questions to Consider

What are the attributes of a believer who has had salvation work out in his/her life?
What are the results of having this salvation life transforming our lives?
Why is “fear and trembling” important to mention when it comes to working out our salvation? Are we doing the same in our sanctification process with God?

Notes

Attributes of our salvation changing us include a cheerful, uncomplaining spirit (v. 15), a purity that is set-apart from the world (v. 15), and a steadfast faith (v. 16).
Not only is God displayed as we present a different character than that of the world; other believers, like Paul, will also give praise and glory to God from seeing our faith bearing fruit in character and witness.
The word says that ”it is God who works in you to will and to act,” meaning that any kind of transformation comes directly from God, not our own attempt at behavior modification. Therefore, our ability to transform ourselves is wholly dependent on the God who shapes us! Let’s take dependence on Him as our role in this transformation.

Evening Reflection

Was there an opportunity for you today to display God? Let’s reflect on a particular conversation or an acquaintance that He might be giving us opportunity to represent our Savior, and pray for more chances tomorrow.

January 11, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on March 23, 2017, is provided by Pastor David Kwon who leads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. David is a graduate of Drexel University (B.S.) and Columbia International University (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Spiritual Gifts – Meaning and Purpose”

1 Corinthians 12:1-7

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

If you ever played organized team sports, you know the importance of finding your specific role on the team according to your abilities. Growing up, I played Little League baseball competitively, and I got to be on some winning teams. What made some of these teams successful was a common understanding that the pitcher, catcher, first basemen, and all the other positions understood what they were good at and also knew the role they played for the betterment of the team.

Paul dedicates Chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians to spiritual gifts – the source, purpose, and importance of them, and so for the next few days, that’s what we’ll be focusing on. In this chapter, he tells us that we all have roles in the body of Christ and teaches how each one of us plays a crucial role in building up one another.

The word “gift” (v.4) is the Greek Word “charisma” which means “gift of grace.” Spiritual gifts are not natural talents or skills, but rather they are supernaturally given by the Holy Spirit only and always to believers in Jesus Christ. These gifts are given to believers to equip others in the Body of Christ. He also points out that there are varieties of gifts, which means that God distributes His gifts in many forms, in many varieties to His children for use in the kingdom of God.

Do you know the gifts God has given you? More importantly, are you putting them into use to build up the body of Christ? One practical way you can apply this passage is to take a spiritual gifts test, and ask others who know you to identify certain spiritual gifts they see in you. My prayer is that we would maximize our gifts for His glory.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the spiritual gifts You give to Your children. Help us today to know and use the gifts You ask us to steward. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 12

Lunch Break Study

Matthew 25:14-30: “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Questions to Consider

What is common among the men Jesus gives talents to?
What is the reason Jesus commends the two men and rebukes the third?
How does our view of God determine how we use our talents?

Notes

Jesus gives talents to all the servants in this parable. It is unclear if talents were actually money or abilities, but it is clear that Jesus gives all of his believers talents that He entrusts them with.
Jesus’ response was determined by how the servants put the talents to use. It should be a challenge for us to see if we are also putting our talents to use. As His children, we should desire to hear those words, “Well done good and faithful servant.”
The third servant saw Jesus as a “hard man” (v. 25) and did not take his responsibility seriously. When we see Jesus as our Father who desires the best for His children, it should give us motivation to put our individual talents to use as well.

Evening Reflection

Take some time reflecting on the passages you read today. What challenged you? Ask Him to speak to you as you spend time in prayer and worship.

January 10, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Christine Li, was first posted on August 2, 2017. Christine, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Theory vs. Execution”

Philippians 4:8-9

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

For more than ten years, I have followed food bloggers intently. Whenever I tell people, they become acutely interested and ask, “Are you a good cook?” Unfortunately, I must say no. I have acquired a lot of knowledge through these blogs, their videos, and eating, but I’ve spent very little time actually practicing any of those things. I can throw fancy words around like “julienne” and “batonnet,” but I am totally unable to follow through in reality. What a waste it is to know so much and be so terrible in execution. Because it’s never translated from my head to my hands, all this knowledge is essentially useless.

In one of his closing passages, Paul exhorts the church of Philippi to intently fill their minds with godly things. However, he follows by saying that they must also practice what they have seen and heard. It is not enough to merely know the right things and to spend time pondering them. These truths and ideals have to be lived out with their lives.

There is no shortage these days of commentaries and insights about the Bible and spiritual life. But when we read them, have we only built an encyclopedia of interesting facts about God, or have these truths taken hold of our lives?

Since you and I are reading this devotional this morning, it’s likely that we try to habitually fill our minds with thoughts of God. But let’s not just settle for good thoughts! We want the truths to transform us. Let’s focus on one or two things we have learned recently that we can put into practice today. Slowly then, as we make our thoughts about God cohere with our activities, we will find that He draws near as we reflect Him in our lifestyle.

Prayer: Father, thank You for teaching us so much about You. We repent of having settled for just collecting information about You when we could have truly encountered You instead and been transformed through applying what we know. Let Your Word transform us so that we can truly live up to what we know. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 11

Lunch Break Study

Read James 1:19-27 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Questions to Consider

James draws a distinction between true faith and religiosity. What should we expect true faith to look like?
What does it mean that God’s word could be a “perfect law that gives freedom,” when James has written so many stipulations and rules about holy living?
What is our role in making sure we have true faith? Let’s reflect on whether we are intently doing this.

Notes

True faith results in a transformation of our inner being – not merely rule-keeping but an above-and-beyond character. True faith results in an extraordinary patience, an extraordinary generosity, and a great desire to set ourselves apart from the world.
James writes that the word can save us; it is planted in us, but its growth and fruition is not up to us. The perfect law gives us freedom because now we are under Christ alone. Instead of a burdensome Law with many rules and regulations, we have been given a perfect righetousness that is impossible for us to acquire on our own. Therefore we are free to take part in God’s righteousness, knowing that He has already made a way for us.
James suggests that we must first humbly accept the word. Not only should we be intently familiar with what it says; we must also stay humble to be obedient to it and what it asks of us.

Evening Reflection

Let’s spend time in response to the passage–training our minds to think about what commendable, godly things we saw or learned. Then, let’s ask God for wisdom and obedience to carry out some of these in our lives tomorrow.

January 9, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional QT, first posted on March 7, 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

“Divorce”

1 Corinthians 7:10-16 (ESV)

To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife. 12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. 13 If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Surprisingly, surveys reveal that the divorce rate for Christian marriages is comparable to that of non-believers, approximately 50%. I believe that the reason for these high numbers is two-fold: First, some Christians don’t understand the importance of marriage and don’t give it the proper honor, and so they marry unwisely. Second, we don’t take seriously the commands regarding divorce and don’t realize that most cases of divorce are prohibited by the Scriptures. Outside of sexual immorality and unfaithfulness to the marriage covenant, there are no other grounds for divorce. Irreconcilable differences, incompatibility, falling out of love cannot be used before God as an excuse for divorce. Even Christians who are married to non-believers are commanded to stay in their marriages.

Jesus lived in a male dominated society, and so the right to divorce was given only to men. This is why there is no discussion regarding the rights of women to start the divorce process. In our culture, however, women can initiate divorce, and so we need to look at what valid reasons there are for Christian women to divorce. In my understanding, there are two reasons for women to dissolve their marriages: The first obviously is sexual unfaithfulness, but the second is abuse at the hands of their husbands. Abuse is a clear violation of the marriage covenant because the husband is no longer protecting the weaker vessel. According to 1 Peter 3:7, the duty of every husband is to honor woman as the weaker partner. And before our women get overly sensitive or offended, this passage is alluding to weakness in the physical sense. It’s clear that Peter isn’t talking about spiritual or intellectual superiority, because he mentions women as co-heirs with men in the grace of life. Peter’s main focus is for men to treat their wives with respect, which would include protecting them physically. To abuse one’s wife is a clear violation against the marriage covenant, and it is biblical grounds for divorce. Beyond these two circumstances, there are no other valid reasons for divorce.

Now why does God have such stringent requirements for marriage? Doesn’t God want us to be happy? And if I’m not happy, why can’t I just leave? It’s here that we have to realize that marriage is not only for the benefit of man and woman but also for the glory of God. I know that it is difficult to see that connection in our day-to-day lives, but the Christian marriage is meant to be a picture of Christ’s love for the Church. Therefore, our witness to the world is dependant on the health of our marriages. In a world that is questioning the very institution of marriage and redefining its limits, the Christian commitment to marriage as a life-long covenant between one man and one woman is needed more than ever.

Prayer: Lord, help us to honor the institution of marriage as a gift of common grace from Your hand. If we are unmarried, give us the strength to remain sexually pure until the day of our marriage. If we are married, help us to honor the vows that we have made before You and before one another. If by circumstance we are divorced, help us to find healing and restoration through the love of Christ. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 10

Lunch Break Study

Read Malachi 2:13-16(ESV): And this second thing you do. You cover the Lord’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. 14 But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. 15 Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. 16 “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”

Questions to Consider

Why does God sometimes reject the offerings of his people?
Why is Christian marriage so important in the eyes of God?
What does God want for our marriages?

Notes

God desires obedience over sacrifice; and in this case, many of the Israelites had divorced their wives in order to marry other women who were leading them towards the worship of foreign gods.
Christian marriage is important because God gives a portion of His Spirit to bless each union between a man and a woman.
Unless you are physically unable, God desires godly offspring from our marriages. God’s desire is that we honor Him with the raising of children who would be taught in the ways of the Lord.

Evening Reflection

Spend some time praying for the marriages and families that you know, in and outside of your church. Perhaps, there is a couple going through difficult times in their marriage or dealing with a wayward child. If you are going through a hard season in your marriage, pray and reach out to a friend or a pastor for counsel.