November 24, Friday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on July 7, 2017, 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.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“About Our Superheroes”

Revelation 15:1-4

Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! 4 Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

When we were young, my friends and I spent hours playing as superheroes, using whatever we could find around the house for weapons. Our fantasy battles were the stuff of legends, complete with sound effects from our mouths. My favorite superhero was always Batman; for me, he seemed to be the most human while still standing toe-to-toe with all the other supernaturally-powered heroes. As I look back at my decision, I wonder if it was because I thought he was the closest I could get to making this fantasy a reality. It was my own fairy tale where I would fight crime, save lives, and be the hero of a dark world. We all enjoy such fairy tales and fantasies—many of them also being the story lines for most Hollywood blockbusters. Theologian Matt Smethurst explains it as “a gnawing suspicion—a hope—present deep within us, that our world isn’t the way it’s supposed to be and isn’t the way it always will be.” In fact these desires point to an underlying reality which we inwardly sense to be somehow true—that perhaps there exists something greater than the broken and finite reality we live in today. And we all hope one day it will come to pass. 

Today our passage clearly speaks of this day: a time when all things will come to an end, where the beast has been conquered and God’s wrath has been completed. That heaven is not merely another fantasy or figment of our imagination, but it is a reality for those who believe.  Commentators note the parallels between this passage and that of Exodus 15, but the difference being that this passage points to the final exodus—heaven. That since the beginning of time, the story of redemption and freedom for God’s people was never meant to be yet another fairy tale, but a reality made possible through Christ. And so, may our hope be strengthened by the infinite value of the kingdom that awaits us; it is a reality that our minds cannot fully grasp, so impossible it is to overestimate its wonder and glory. May we always remind ourselves that we are simply sojourners in a broken world—that though we may struggle in this world, there will come a day in which all suffering will cease and we will spend eternity in His glory.  As we finish this series in the book of Revelation, may He create and renew your hope in what is to come. 

Prayer: Lord, restore my hope in Your kingdom that awaits us. We confess that many times we minimize the gospel message to a mere a fairy tale, or we take for granted the life to come after this. Lord, thank You for having already prepared a place for us for that time. Until then, give us the strength to endure and persevere here on earth. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 13

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Peter 2:9-12: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Questions to Consider

  1. What is our responsibility as God’s people?
  2. Why does Peter call us “sojourners and exiles”? How does this affect the way we live?
  3. Spend some time reflecting on your life. How would you identify yourself in this world? 

Notes

  1. Our first responsibility as His people is to realize that we have been chosen by God. The words “royal priesthood” and “holy nation” can be traced back to the OT. As the job of the priest was to lead the people towards God, God calls us to lead others to Him. This is only made possible through Christ who stands as our High Priest and Mediator, reconciling us once and for all to the Father. This is the excellency that we are called to proclaim to others. 
  2. Charles Spurgeon defines the meaning of sojourner to our position and our character. First, we must know that our home awaits us. Secondly, being a sojourner means we should expect to be treated by the world as strangers who do not understand us. Just as when we visit a foreign country and they do not understand our culture or our language, as God’s people we should set ourselves apart in our character. However, this does not excuse us to keep to our own ways, but Peter calls us to live honorably to the world, that they may see the good deeds within us. But more than how we appear to others, we are also called to be strangers to the world in our hearts. In the same manner we would be cautious in a foreign land, we must be cautious and weary of the desires that this world encourages to follow after.
  3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Sometimes being a Christian is difficult. Often we must deny ourselves many things that bring some type of enjoyment to our lives. However, we forget that for every refusal, we are saying yes to the true joy and hope that awaits us. Spend some time reminding yourself of the wonderful hope we have in eternity and may you be renewed by this truth. What are the areas in your life which you struggle to relinquish? Spend some time asking that His Spirit will empower you, for we know that those who live by the Spirit will bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). 

November 23, Thursday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on November 23, 2017, is provided by Pastor Joshua Kim. Joshua, a graduate of Emory University, Columbia Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Talbot Theological Seminary (Th.M.), is the Lead Pastor of Upper Room Seattle church.  

Devotional Thoughts for This Morning

“Thanksgiving”

Genesis 21:22-34

At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do. 23 Now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my descendants or with my posterity, but as I have dealt kindly with you, so you will deal with me and with the land where you have sojourned.” 24 And Abraham said, “I will swear.” 25 When Abraham reproved Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelech’s servants had seized, 26 Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, and I have not heard of it until today.” 27 So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant. 28 Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock apart. 29 And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set apart?” 30 He said, “These seven ewe lambs you will take from my hand, that this may be a witness for me that I dug this well.” 31 Therefore that place was called Beersheba, because there both of them swore an oath. 32 So they made a covenant at Beersheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army rose up and returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called there on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. 34 And Abraham sojourned many days in the land of the Philistines.

Happy Thanksgiving to all our AMI family! I pray that wherever you are, your heart is full of gratitude because of God’s faithfulness in your life. It was almost 400 years ago when the first US Thanksgiving was celebrated by a fraction of the surviving pilgrims who came to the New World. It had been the first successful harvest after much suffering and loss. And on this day, alongside Native American friends who had greatly assisted the Pilgrims in settling in their new homes, they got together for three days of feasting and fellowship. Literary Critic Kathleen Donegan in a PBS special on the First Thanksgiving recounts the following:

Part of the reason why they were grateful was because they had been in such misery… so in some way, that day of thanksgiving is coming out of mourning. It’s also coming out of grief. And this abundance that is a relief from that loss… but we don’t think about the loss; we think about the abundance.

Today’s passage can easily be overlooked. But upon further investigation, this part of the story  actually has a lot of connections to the first observance of Thanksgiving. Commentators note the significance of this covenant made between Abraham and Abimelech as Abraham’s first steps of leaving the nomadic way of life and establishing himself in the land where God had promised to make him a great nation—Canaan. What may not be apparent especially to modern-day readers is this dispute over a well.  Scholars note that in such arid climates, the securing of a water source is of greatest importance when it comes to establishing a settlement. By having Abimelech guarantee the ownership of the well at Beersheba as belonging to Abraham, he had now secured his water source. And much like the Pilgrims who celebrated God’s provision in helping them settle in their new home, Abraham begin to establish roots into the promised land of God. 

As you take this day to remember all the ways the Lord has been faithful to you, how He has established your ways through His blessings, is your heart overflowing with gratitude? Or are we too consumed by the things that we do not have or, as Donegan put it, are we focused on the miseries and the loss? Not that those things are insignificant, but because God is so much more significant, we are able to focus on His goodness. May God bring to remembrance today all that He has done for us, starting with the cross of Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Father, thank You! Thank You for who You are! Thank You for all that You have done! You are Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. You are Jehovah Shalom, the God of my peace. Everything I have in life is because of Your grace. And on this day, I choose to look to Your goodness. Help me to make this the posture in which I live every day of my life. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 12

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Questions to Consider

  1. According to this passage, what is rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks a summation of? What allows you to do this?
  2. What is the relationship between rejoicing, prayer, and thanksgiving? How do you see these things playing a role in your life?
  3. As you take a moment to reflect, is there an example of a hardship in your life where in Christ, you were able to or you could have given thanks in even that circumstance? How so?

Notes

  1. The passage shows that rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks is the will of God for us—this is what He wants for our lives. When so many of us ask about the will of God in terms of direction or decisions, this passage points to the posture in which we are called to live. And this is possible all because of what Christ has done and accomplished on our behalf. 
  2. It is often explained that these three things are three aspects of the same experience. Rejoicing is the inward experiencing of God; thanksgiving is the outward expression of that rejoicing toward God; prayer is the process through which we come to understand and experience from God’s perspective. The psalms are an expression of these three things at play. Therefore, it (singular) is the will of God for us—you cannot truly have one without the other. 
  3. Personal reflection. Really spend some time thinking through this—go deeper with the Spirit rather than giving a “Sunday school” response. Taste and see that it is possible to give thanks in all circumstances. 

Evening Reflection

I hope your bellies are full at this point. We have spent the day reflecting upon the goodness of God that has established our lives to where it is now. As we prepare for tomorrow, take this moment to posture yourself to give thanks now for what will happen tomorrow. In what ways can you already start tomorrow by giving thanks now.

November 22, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional QT, first posted on September 6, 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, is currently on a sabbatical.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Who Created Sin?”

Genesis 1:27-31(NIV)

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” 29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. 

Some years ago, I had a chance to go on a mission trip across the Western United States with a group of high school students; and we went on the streets of cities like Portland, Seattle, and Salt Lake City to share the gospel.  One of the first stops during this trip was the campus of Cal Berkeley.    After one particular session of street evangelism, we started to discuss our experiences.  One student came back very troubled, because he had run into a homeless man who asked him a simple but very profound question:  “If God created everything, then who created sin?”  

Being relatively new to the Christian faith at that time, I had absolutely no answer to that question—and neither did anyone else in our group. Eventually, we all chose to forget about the question and dismissed it as being too intellectual and simply a hindrance to our faith.  Unfortunately, because we didn’t have an answer to this basic philosophical question, we opened the doors of doubt in the mind of this particular student.  I now believe that every single Christian should be able to give a rational defense of the Christian faith based on the word of God.   

Knowing Berkeley, I would not be surprised if this man habitually used the dilemma of the origin of sin and evil as a stumbling block to believers.  The reason why this question is so loaded is that at the heart of the matter, it casts a shadow doubt on the goodness of God.  And once you start doubting God’s goodness, you cannot trust Him, you cannot love Him, and you certainly cannot live for Him.  Our relationship with God is predicated on His goodness, and that is why the first chapter of the Bible is spent establishing that God is good and that everything He created at the beginning was also very good.  In hindsight, if we understood the story of Genesis, we could have given a satisfying answer to the question of the origins of evil. 

Everything that God created was good, but He also created morally free creatures who have the potential to take that which is good and use it for evil.  Even the fact that we are born with our freedom is a good thing.  However, what we choose to do with that freedom is entirely up to us, and we will be held responsible for it.  In the world that God created, the freedom of man could only be truly free if there was also the potential for evil.  Sadly, in our world, we take many of the things that God created for good, and we exercise our moral agency and use it for evil.  This does not negate God’s goodness, but rather it highlights our wickedness and our need for His saving grace.    

Prayer: Lord, we bless You because You are good and Your love endures forever.  Even though we are tempted to question Your goodness and compassion towards us, we acknowledge that You are not like us and You do not waver between good and evil.  You are good at all times and You never change.   May we rest our hope in Your unwavering goodness.   Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Proverbs 11

Lunch Break Study

Read James 1:13-18 (NIV): When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. 

Questions to Consider

  1. Why is it wrong to accuse God of tempting us?
  2. What is the source of our temptation?
  3. How can we fight against the deception and lies of the enemy?   

Notes

  1. James makes it clear that God cannot be tempted by sin nor does He actively tempt anyone to sin.   However, God does permit Satan as a free being to bring temptation into the believer’s life; but this is vastly different from saying that God personally is involved in tempting us with sin.      
  2. The source of our temptation rests within our own sinful nature.  This is the area of our hearts that Satan exposes and takes advantage of because we are enticed by our own evil desires.  This also gives us strong motivation to put to death the old nature and to live in the newness of life.   
  3. We combat the lies of the enemy by growing in the truth of God’s word and believing in the foundational doctrines of the Christian faith.  Every good and perfect gift has come from an unchanging God.  

Evening Reflection 

It is so important to pause once in a while to consider the goodness of God.  In what ways has God been good to you?   Think about your family and friends, your health, your job, and your church.  These are all blessings from the hands of God.  It is easy to believe in God’s goodness when things are going well.  The challenge is to trust that God is good when life is difficult.  

November 21, Tuesday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on November 21, 2017, is provided by Pastor Joshua Kim. Joshua, a graduate of Emory University, Columbia Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Talbot Theological Seminary (Th.M.), is the Lead Pastor of Upper Room Seattle church.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Turning Our Sorrows into Rejoicing”

Genesis 21.3, 6-7 (ESV)

Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac.

6 And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” 7 And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

If you have spent some time browsing through YouTube, there’s a good chance that you have come across some of these videos: They capture the moments when an enlisted member of a family (a dad, a mom, a sibling, etc.) comes back from war or training, surprising their family on a special occasion. And my guess is that for many of us, watching these sweet moments of reunion, our hearts are full of joy, which often leaks out of our eyes in the form of tears. 

The human experience of crying is odd. Oftentimes, tears represent sorrow, pain, loss, while other times, tears are a sign of overwhelming joy and happiness. In today’s passage, we see another reaction that represents these extremes. If you remember back in Genesis 18, we see Abraham and Sarah encounter three men who foretell that Sarah will have a son next year, at the age of 90.  Hearing this news, Sarah laughs to herself. The nature of Sarah’s laugh has been somewhat debated by many theologians, but many agree that this laugh was an incredulous response, almost a mocking tone of disbelief. 

Now in Genesis 21, we see that Sarah is again laughing. In fact, Isaac’s name is derived from the word laughter. But this time, her laughter comes from a very different place. While there is still a sense of awe and disbelief, Sarah’s laughter is now one of incredible joy and amazement at how God had done the impossible. And here we see a central theme that surrounds God’s work.

God is a God who is able to turn our sorrows into rejoicing. Not only is He able, but He is willing. For those who trust in Him, they will experience this kind of transformation. Hearts are changed. Perspectives are shifted. Desires are redirected. What is good to our eyes changes from what is fleshly to what is spiritual—this is possible in God. As you reflect upon God’s ability to change your laughter of unbelief to laughter of joy, may you be reminded of God’s incredible love toward you.

Prayer: Father, thank You that You are our heavenly Father who loves to give what is good to His children. Thank You that Your intent is always for good and not for evil. God, You are a God of the impossible—all things are possible in You, even changing of calloused hearts. May I be reminded of that power that can change even the darkest corners of my heart. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 10

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 30:1-4, 11-12 (ESV): I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. 2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. 3 O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. 4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. . . .11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever

Questions to Consider

  1. What reasons does David give in the Psalm for his exaltation of God? Are there parts of David’s life that would testify of this kind of God?
  2. Focus on verses 11-12. What can you learn from the contrasting emotions and experience the psalmist feels when God’s deliverance comes?  
  3. How does your understanding of question 2 change your understanding of the manner in which we are called to live our lives? 

Notes

  1. You can see that David has experienced deliverance from his enemies (Saul, Absalom), from living as a nomad in fear of his life (1 Sam 27, 2 Sam 15), the struggle of being anointed king yet the fulfillment of that seeming so distant, etc.
  2. The contrast is from mourning to dancing. Sometimes, all we ask is from mourning to peace, but God gives so much more than that. He not only removes our sackcloth of mourning, but He clothes us with gladness. He is indeed a God who can do far greater than what we can imagine or think.
  3. As God is a God who turns mourning into not just peace but dancing, the posture in which we are called to live our lives is found in verse 12: not be silent; sing your praise to Him. Not just peace, not just comfort—we are to take our dancing and turn it into rejoicing to His glory.

Evening Reflection

Charles Spurgeon on Psalm 30: “Observe the contrast, God takes away the mourning of his people; and what does he give them instead of it? Quiet and peace? Aye, and a great deal more than that… Glory be to thee, O God, if, by a sense of full forgiveness and present justification, thou hast enriched my spiritual nature and filled me with all the fullness of God.”

As you have spent the day reflecting on a God who takes us from doubt and mourning to faith and rejoicing, in what areas of your life do you need this truth to be spoken to? Spend some time this evening reminding yourself of the God who is able to turn your mourning into dancing. And respond in appropriate worship to Him. 

November 20, Monday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on November 13, 2017, is provided by Jennifer Kim who had served as a staff in multiple AMI churches in the past, She is a graduate of Boston University (B.A.) and Alliance Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Cost of Ingratitude”

Luke 17:11-19

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

With the pumpkin spice lattes, cornucopia decorations, and colder weather upon us, it’s clear that the long awaited day of food coma and family get-togethers is approaching. But we all know that the reason for the season isn’t for the turkey or the cornbread, or even the pumpkin pie, but it’s to remember all that we should be thankful for this season. I’m sure you’ve heard countless messages and read dozens of devotionals explaining why we should be grateful and what we should be grateful for, but have you ever wondered what the cost of ingratitude is?

In today’s passage we read of the ten men with leprosy who call out to the Lord for his mercy and healing. As Jesus directs them to go and show themselves to the priests, the men realize they are healed, but only one out of the ten men turn back to give God praise. What’s interesting here is that Luke, the author, makes it a point to emphasize that the one person who returned to give Jesus thanksgiving was “a Samaritan” (v.16), a “foreigner” (v.18). We can assume by this statement that the other nine were Israelites, the chosen people of God, yet the very people who were called to be set apart fail to return and “give praise to God except this foreigner” (v.18). For Jesus, it was important that all of the men return to Jesus to give gratitude for what He had done. It didn’t matter that the nine were Israelites, it didn’t matter if they were thankful in their hearts, and it didn’t even matter if they knew Jesus was the healer, what mattered most to him was that they would express their gratitude.  We can learn from this story that unexpressed gratitude will always be received and felt like ingratitude.

Often times we have this mentality that we do not need to give thanksgiving because it’s already understood or because we are entitled to what we have received. How many times have we said, “My parents/friends/pastors know I’m thankful for them, I don’t need to tell them,” or how about “I don’t need to say thank you, that’s their job”? But Jesus shows us that unexpressed gratitude is also failure to worship. Clearly, it was important for Jesus that all of the lepers return to give praise, and we too are called to praise God through thanksgiving. Can I ask you: Are you living your life like the nine or are you living your life like the one who turned back to give Jesus thanksgiving? We are all where we are today because someone has led us to this point, so let us live our lives like the thankful leper by giving gratitude where gratitude is due.

Prayer: God, thank you that every good and perfect gift is from You. Help me to remember this and give thanksgiving in all seasons of life. And help me to be a worshipper by giving thanksgiving to the people who have helped me be where I am today. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 9

Lunch Break Study

Read Exodus 14:10-14:  As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” 13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Questions to Consider

  1. Why did the Israelites so quickly forget God’s intervention and faithfulness in their lives?
  2. What did Moses say to the Israelites in the midst of their fear?
  3. What steps can you take to stand firm and remember the character and faithfulness of God in your life?

Note

  1. It is part of our fallen nature—“What have you done for me lately!”  Somewhere along the way, they became very entitled—they even complained about having to  eat manna every day.
  2. Despite their ungrateful attitude, Moses assures the Israelites that God will continue to support them.  
  3. Get a blank sheet of paper and write down all the things God has done for you throughout the years.  Then, thank the Lord for being faithful and kind to you for all these years.    

Evening Reflection

Today we learned that there is a cost to ingratitude and that is failure to give God worship. We are indebted to so many people who have helped us be where we are today. To cultivate this heart of gratitude let us reflect on the people that you may have taken for granted. I want to encourage you to write them a note expressing your gratitude and give it to them this season.

November 19, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Jabez Yeo who is now a friend of AMI, was first posted on November 19, 2016.  He is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (B.S.) and Columbia International University where he studied Islam (M.A.). 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“A Great Theologian Better Known for His Devotions to God”

Matthew 22:35-7

And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

One component to loving God with our mind is expanding and developing it.  Much in the same way that lifting weights can develop muscles, grappling with difficult concepts can sharpen our minds, which is the subject of today’s devotional.  Don’t throw in the towel too early; stay with it and both your mind and your heart will be enriched (P. Ryun). 

In the 4th century A.D., the church fought for true worship against the heresy of Apollinarianism, whose founder Apollinarius proposed that humans are composed of three aspects: body, soul, and spirit. Thus, according to Apollinarius, Jesus was divine in that the Logos took the place of a spirit in Him; but that His body and soul were human (i.e. “God in a body”).

In response, Gregory of Nyssa rose to combat this heresy because he saw it undermining salvation: If Jesus’ humanity was not complete, then our human nature could not be fully saved through Him. In his writings, Gregory argued from a place of humility, as he always reminded his readers, that ultimately God’s essence is transcendent (i.e., beyond this world).  Gregory then went on to explain that in Christ, there are two “what” (i.e. full divinity and full humanity) and one “who” (i.e. Jesus Himself); but in the Trinity, there are three “who” (i.e. Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and one “what” (i.e. full divinity). For Gregory, the “key to unlocking but not destroying the mystery of the Trinity and Jesus Christ is the distinction between whatness and whoness”

Interestingly enough, Gregory is widely known not for his theological contributions but for his devotional life. When he wasn’t combating heresies, Gregory “wrote many reflections and commentaries on Scripture, most notably on Moses, the Lord’s Prayer, the Song of Songs, and the Beatitudes.”  For Gregory, Christianity was not just a religion of sound doctrine but also of full heart and spirit engagement.  When historians reflect on Gregory’s life, many believe that his most important contributions to Christianity were in the areas of spirituality and biblical vision, as opposed to doctrine.

It is a common struggle to worship God with one part of ourselves but not others. As we enter into service today, let’s seek to worship God with everything we have, because He is worthy. From this day forward, let’s aim to pour out our hearts, souls and minds to Him.  

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are worthy of everything that I have. All that I have is from You, and You have given me much more than I ever deserve. Help me to fully worship You today and from this day forward. May You be the only One to receive my worship and adoration. In Your Name I pray. Amen

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 8

November 18, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on September 3, 2016, is provided by Pastor Jason Sato who, along with his wife Jessica and three young children, serves in Japan as an AMI missionary.  Jason is a graduate of UC San Diego (BS) and Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The Stench of Death”

John 11:38-44 

Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. [39] Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” [40] Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” [41] So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. [42] I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” [43] When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” [44] The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

In the city, the strongest sensations may not be the sights but the smells.  An interesting mixture of something rotting and urine constantly reminds you of where you are.  Our preference is to avoid such unpleasant or ugly things, but life is not found in an artificially sterile environment—neither is glory.

Jesus asks that the stone to Lazarus’s tomb be taken away.  Being courteous, Martha desires to shield Jesus from the awful smell that must be within.  But Jesus intends for all to see the glory of God.

Glory shines brightest in the darkest, ugliest places.  God’s glory is revealed most clearly in the cross of Christ—the most awful spectacle in history.  So when we avoid the dark places of our world or deny that the darkness in our hearts exists, we prevent ourselves from seeing the Lord of Glory conquer that darkness and make things new.  

There is no resurrection without death.  Lazarus had to die in order to be raised again.  And when Lazarus is raised from the dead, he is not raised so he can flee from a world of darkness to one that is light and easy.

We must not forget that later the Pharisees plot to kill Lazarus.  He very likely experiences persecution as a member of a sect banned from the synagogues and Jewish communities.  Lazarus does not live forever and eventually experiences death again.

Lazarus is raised so that he and many others might see for themselves the weightiness and splendor of God.  And those who believe are then sent back into a world of darkness to honor this awesome God and call others to bow before His glory.

Prayer: Father, we thank You that You do not turn away from the ugliness of our world and of our hearts.  You shine, You redeem, You restore.  May we follow You and by Your Spirit may we shine Your light, and may we and those around us see for ourselves the light of the glory of God. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 6-7

November 17, Friday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on June 9, 2017, is written by Tina who attended Biola University (BA) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). She and her husband Anthony are now in E. Asia as missionaries. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Being Rich Towards God”

Revelation 3:14-18 

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: 15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.

Did you know that God’s desire for you is to become rich? He wills for you to have abundance. The trap that prevents us from experiencing the richness and wealth that God envisions for us is our spiritual blindness to what true wealth really looks like. 

The believers in the Laodicea had fallen into a deep blindness of themselves. They had become secure in their material affluence, content about where they had arrived spiritually and proud that they reached a place of maturity on their own. In their eyes, they are rich and have need of nothing. As a result of their self-definition, Jesus is showing them that they have actually become poor—poor in their ministry and service towards others, and in turn, poor towards God. Though they have become ineffective and “distasteful” to the Lord, the Lord is mercifully drawing them back to repentance and teaching them the path to richness. This is how we know that God genuinely desires His children to be rich. In v. 18, Jesus says, “buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich.” He advises the believers to turn to Him to receive spiritual wealth that comes from the molding and shaping that He does on their lives. He invites them to attain from Him white garments so they can be clothed in their identity and true security that comes from Christ. This way, they may become genuinely rich and consequently be rich towards God and others. 

Similarly, apostle Paul instructs his mentee, Timothy, to teach the church in Ephesus the same spiritual lesson of being rich in God rather than in earthly wealth and values. He says in 1 Timothy 6:18-19, “Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.” It is only by pursuing the type of richness that God defines that propels us to truly live “that which is life indeed” and that which God designed for us. 

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank You that You saved me that I may have life and have it abundantly (Jn. 10:10). Teach and guide me to be rich in You and to find life and fulfillment from Your well. Allow my life to be a vessel of generosity to others so that I may glorify You and be an extension of Your kindness. In Jesus’ name.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 5

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 12:13-21: Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14 But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” 16 And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. 17 And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ 21 So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Questions to Consider

1. What is the root issue that Jesus is drawing out to the man in vv. 13-15?

2. How does the rich man in the parable live his life?

3. What is the spiritual lesson that Jesus is teaching through this parable?

Notes

1. Jesus is pointing to the issue of man’s greed, which manifests itself in striving after material possessions. 

2. The rich man is blessed with an abundance of crops. However, instead of using his resources and gains to serve God and to bless others, he is storing up the resources for himself. He is investing in his own comfort and security. 

3. Everything we have, even the breath in our lungs and our abilities, comes from God. Everything is meant to glorify God and to be used for eternal purposes. Jesus is admonishing the man to be “rich towards God” instead of storing up treasures on earth like the rich man in the parable. 

Evening Reflection

This evening, let’s spend some time reflecting on Jesus’ words and let Him direct us to invest in what is eternal and lasting. Luke 12:22-23, 31:  “And He said to His disciples, ‘For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on.For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing…But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you’”

November 16, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on August 10, 2017.

Devotional Thoughts for This Morning

“Missionary Jon’s First Day at the ‘Office’”

2 Tim. 2:1-2 (NIV 1984)

“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”

 One word aptly describes the Korean-Argentian missionary who invited me to teach at the semiary where she operates with her Latino husband: overworked.  Because everyone who comes there to teach for a week is a Korean pastor, she must translate all their handouts to Spanish prior to their coming as well as interpret for them while they teach.  So, my time there became half a vacation for her in terms of translation, but not by much since she still prepared all my meals (Korean) while tending to her two active daughters (2 and 4).  Apparently, she is the only one in her organizaiton of 350+ missionaries who can do what she does.  

One afternoon, the missionary commented how encouraging it was for her and the students to see that I came with an apprentice for training purposes, because it showed the importance of producing those who are able to teach others, and how to go about doing so.  She was referring to Jonathan, a staff member at Radiance Christian Church (S.F.), who was part of my cohort group for 10 weeks.  A native of Bolivia, he is exploring the possibility of serving the Lord abroad, but on this trip he did more than that.  He was not only a tremendous blessing to the Cuban students but to me as well, since his several hours of instruction gave me a chance to rest in what was a grueling session, particularly from Wednesday to Thursday (15 sessions in 18 hours/all told, 19 sessions in 23 hours).  Jonathan also prepared the test (41 questions) and graded them (all 71).

Just going to Cuba to teach was a great privillege, but training Jonathan was what made it fun.  I had even more fun when Pastor Hugo, with whom I trained while serving in Meixco, became connected to the seminary: he’ll be going there to offer one of my courses later this year.  

Do you serve the Lord in any capacity?  Then invest whatever you have received from the Lord—knowledge, skill, or money—into those up-and-coming learners who desire to serve God: “Produce reliable men who are qualified to teach others.”Thus, I was happy to report this to Pastor Mark, Jon’s boss: “Jon showed all the earmarks of having the potential to become a dynamic and passionate teacher of God’s Word.”  Now, that’s a lot of fun!  

Prayer:  Lord, I thank You for the things that have been given to me.  I also thank You for all the people who have invested into my life so that I can be productive for you and in life.   Motivate me to give back, espeically to other young people, so that they can serve with great effectiveness.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 4

Lunch Break Study

Read Rom. 15:14: I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.

Lk. 19:20-4: Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ 24 And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’

Questions to Consider

1. Someone said, “You can’t give what you don’t possess.”  With respect to teaching, what are some prerequisites of producing reliable men who are qualified to teach others?

2. Ultimately, why is God not pleased when we don’t share with others what He has given us?

3. What are some common excuses to justify why we do not try to reproduce ourselves?  Pray about investing yourself into the life of a person who needs what you have. 

Notes

1. Two of the prerequisites are character (as indicated by “full of goodness”) and knowledge.  Without character, no one may want to learn from you; without knowledge, no one would feel the need to learn from you.

2. Not sharing with others what God has given us shows that we are lazy at best and greedy at worst.  The operative word is stewardship: we must faithfully manage what is given to us so that others may benefit from the investment God has made in our lives. 

3. The unfaithful servant in the parable had the gall to lay the blame on God Himself, presenting him as unfair and unprincipled.  Some of the excuses among us may be: “I’m not ready yet,” “It’s not the right time” (Hag. 1:2); “Someone better can do it”.  The truth: we prioritize increasing our own self-worth (often at the expense of others) above serving God.   

Evening Reflection

 Pastor Hugo has probably spent more than 1,000 hours with me in the classroom over the eight years I taught him; he often came to my house as well for further instruction.  I sent him out to churches and schools in and outside of our city to teach my courses.  He continues to impart them, including Greek, which he has introduced to a college in Indiana as a program for Hispanics.  As for me, I feel so much joy, satisfaction, and gratitude toward the Lord.  

I invite you to pray about giving yourself to someone who wants to learn from you. “Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35b).

November 15, Wednesday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provide by Pastor Peter Yoon of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego, was first posted on May 5, 2017.  Peter is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A New Spiritual Body”

1 Cor. 15:42-44a

So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

As you get a little bit older, you’re a little bit wiser (or at least you should be).  It’s one of the benefits of getting older as God’s children. But, you also begin to notice that your body isn’t what it used to be. I remember when I was younger, if I ever twisted my ankle playing a game of basketball, I was right back in the gym after 2-3 days of rest. Today, I find that I’m out for 2-3 weeks before my ankles feel strong enough to run again. As we get older, our bodies begin to remind us just how frail and weak we are, until one day it ceases to work altogether. 

It’s a rather morbid thought. However, the Bible tells us that for the believers, that is hardly the end. The good news is that one day our mortal bodies will be completely transformed, taking on a new “spiritual body.” We might not know all of the fine details as to what that will look like, but Paul does give us few thoughts so that we approach even our mortality with a new perspective. He says that the new body will be “imperishable”; it will be raised “in glory” and “in power.” Those phrases, along with other illustrations that Paul uses to describe what is to come in verses 35-49, gives me a sense of optimistic anticipation. 

If you’ve ever lost a loved one in this life, there is much pain and grief. But for the believers, there is more than just consolation. There is good news because there is a glorious new body that is promised to those who have fallen asleep. Can you just imagine your parent or your grandparent who have passed away being embodied with an imperishable body?  A body that, if you could see it, you would describe as one “in glory” and “in power”?

Do you ever fear death?  Who hasn’t from one time or another?  However, God’s word reminds us that we have no reason to fear death, for we will be resurrected one day in a new and improved body beyond our wildest imagination.  By the way, I wonder if I’ll ever sprain an ankle with my resurrected body?  Naw!

Prayer: Lord, thank You that Your Word promises me a new resurrected body for all of eternity. But as long as I live in this body of mine, help me to serve You by telling my family and friends of the good news of hope that is in Jesus Christ. In Your Name, Amen! 

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 3

Lunch Break Study  

Read Matt. 27:50-3: And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

Questions to Consider

  1. Upon Jesus’ death, what phenomena do Matthew record for his readers? 
  2. What is significant about the tearing of the curtain of the temple? 
  3. What is significant about the raising of the dead to life? 

Notes

  1. There are two: the tearing of the curtain of the temple and many holy people being raised to life. 
  2. Jesus’ death is the beginning of the end for the temple system that had opposed Him, that had denied Him, and that had prevented people of all nations into fellowship with God. Now people would have direct communion with God through Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death. 
  3. This is a very odd story, but Matthew intends us to see the story as picture-language, a vivid way of saying “from that moment on, death was a defeated force.” It was a hint of what would come at the end of all things, the great final resurrection of which Paul speaks about. 

Evening Reflection

As the week of Thanksgiving approaches, reflect on the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ and ask the Holy Spirit to shape your heart to reflect that of Jesus.