October 10, Tuesday

REPOSTToday’s AMI Devotional QT, first posted on October 17, 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

“Being Second”

Genesis 13:5-9

And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, 6 so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, 7 and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land.8 Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.”

In our world, we place a premium on being first in line. If we’re about to check out of the grocery store, we hope to be the first in line at the register. When it’s opening night of a new blockbuster movie, we want to be first in line if we can. And of course when there’s a big job promotion coming up, we want to be first in line to receive it. Being first in line means more opportunities, more choices, better seats, higher income, etc. So, of course, if we have the choice, we’ll always choose to be first in line.

However, in our passage, Abram goes completely against this tendency and instead chooses to be second. Genesis 13 tells us that there was strife between Abram and Lot’s households, and so Abram knows that the best solution for him and his nephew is to go their separate ways. At this point, Abram had every right to be first in line. Abram was not only older than Lot, but as his uncle, he had familial authority over Lot. Also, Abram knew he was favored by God. He was entitled to put himself first in line to choose the best land for settlement. Yet despite the power and privilege that could have easily justified a choice to be first, Abram chose to be second.

Why would anyone choose to be second? Abram was willing to give up his place in line out of love for Lot. Love is demonstrated by our willingness to put others before ourselves, and Abram clearly loved Lot because he gave up his power and privilege for the sake of his nephew. Every day we carry an entitlement that drives our desire to be first; to walk through a door first, to take what we deserve, to have first pick. But each day yields opportunities to be second and to demonstrate love to our family members, friends, co-workers and the world by giving up our privilege and putting others before ourselves. If we choose to be second, we’re not only demonstrating our love to others, but we’re demonstrating the sacrificial love of Jesus to the world. Let’s strive to be second today!

Prayer: Jesus, help me to lay down my privilege and entitlement and put others before myself this day. I remember that this is what You did as you humbled yourself on the cross for us. I pray that I can love others like You love me. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joel 2

Lunch Bible Study

Read Philippians 2:1-4: So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Questions to Consider

According to this passage, from where do we find the foundation for humility?
What is the definition of humility according to Philippians 2? How might this go against our own definitions of humility?
How can we have more humility in our lives? What keeps us from being humble?

Notes

The foundation is found in verse 1, where Paul tells us to be humble on the condition that we have received any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love or any work of the Spirit or any affection or sympathy. In sum, the foundation of humility is if we have received anything from Jesus.
The definition of humility from this passage would be to count others more significant than ourselves by looking out for the needs of others. Humility is not looking down on ourselves or thinking of ourselves as worthless, lowly, or and poor. Humility is putting others before ourselves in spite of our own privilege or entitlement.
Humility has to start with our relationship with Jesus. If we spend time with Jesus, then we will come to realize that humility comes from experiencing grace, and not because of our own works. When we recognize this, it empowers us to let go of privilege or entitlement and to put others first and ourselves second. What keeps us from being humble is when we put ourselves not only before others but above Jesus himself.

Evening Reflection

Think about the events of this day. Did you have opportunities to be second today, and if so, did you take them? It’s hard for us to let go of entitlement because we’re naturally selfish; it is only through God’s grace that we can genuinely put the needs of others before our own. However this day was, go to Jesus tonight and ask Him for the strength and humility to love others.

October 9, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provide by Pastor Peter Yoon of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego, was first posted on October 9, 2017. Peter is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A License to Sin”

Jude 1:3-4

Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. 4 For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

Churches are filled with many young impressionable believers that can make discipleship exciting. However, at times, it’s unfortunate when someone in the church twists God’s grace into a license to sin. It is true that no person is required to observe the OT Law as a means for salvation; the gospel of Jesus Christ is that Heaven is absolutely a free gift; and no church attendance or offering money is at all required for salvation. This is because when Jesus died on the cross, He fulfilled the OT Law (Rom. 10:4; Gal. 3:23-25). However, the unbiblical conclusion is that there’s nothing that God expects of Christians in terms of a disciplined life in God’s Spirit, and some begin to think, “If I’m saved by grace and all of my sins, past, present, and future, are forgiven, why not sin all I want?”

Do you at times hold to that line of thinking? After many failed attempts to live a holy life, we develop a calloused “so-what” attitude towards sin. However, that thinking is not the fruit of a genuine relationship with God. God’s desire is that we become increasingly more like His Son. Though we can’t do it on our own, God’s grace and His Spirit helps us in our weaknesses as we strive towards holiness. Since God has given us His precious gift of salvation through Jesus, our response is to obey Him out of love and gratitude for what He has done for us (Rom. 12:1-2).

Are there areas in your life where you are twisting the idea of God’s grace?

Prayer: Lord, your grace is truly precious. Thank you that you required nothing from me in receiving your salvation. But now that I’ve been saved, teach me daily to give you everything in living for your purposes. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joel 1

Lunch Break Study

Read Matt. 13:24-30; 36-43: Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ 28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them.30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

Questions to Consider

1. At the end of the age, all of the weeds will be pulled up and burned in the fire. However, at this present age, what does Jesus say about the weeds?

2. Why does owner allow the weeds to remain along with the wheat?

3. This parable does not teach toleration of illegitimate doctrines in the church. However, at the present age, the church will be faced with ungodly people who attempt to pervert God’s grace. How can you keep yourself from being deceived by ungodly thinking?

Notes

1. Jesus explains that God tolerates the wicked in the present for the sake of his elect, but will publicly distinguish between the two in the day when the secrets of the kingdom are revealed. God endures the wicked in the present to provide all those who will receive him time to become his followers (Rom. 9:22-24; 2 Pet. 3:9, 15).

2. Jesus’ primary point is the coexistence of kingdom people with the world’s people in this age. The point here is NOT that we should abandon our efforts to keep the church pure (18:7-14, 21-35); rather, the kingdom remains obscure in the present world and only the final day will bring God’s true children into their vindicated glory and banish the wicked from among them.

3. Personal response

Evening Reflection

Prayer: Lord, I confess that in my sinfulness, I can be great at selective hearing when it comes to the Word of God. Help me to humble myself before the entire counsel of Scripture. Empower me with Your Spirit to agree with Your Word in the areas that are difficult for me to obey. Amen.

October 8, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on August 7, 2016, is provided by Ulysses Wang who pastors Renewal Church in Sunnyvale, California. Pastor Ulysses is a graduate of New York University (BA) and Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“A False Sense of Spiritual Security”

Colossians 2:20-23

If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

I once lived in an apartment with termites. I didn’t know we had termites, until one day my foot suddenly stepped right through the wooden floor. Up until that point everything looked normal – the wood was shiny and clean. What I couldn’t see, however, was that everything below the shiny veneer had been slowly eaten away until the floor could no longer support my weight. I think this is a good illustration of what Paul describes here in his letter to the Colossians. They were impressed and taken in by folks who seemed spiritual because of their harsh treatment of the flesh. The problem, however, was that such treatment was in no way indicative of true spirituality, which lies in the state of one’s heart. I believe that the Colossian problem is not unfamiliar to us today. Millennials are quick to pass on the heart-changing truth of the gospel for a soft-spoken “guru” dressed in eastern mystical garb. What looks spiritual is oftentimes powerless to change our lives. Simpson and Bruce explain what Paul means by “the flesh”:

“When they commended harsh usage of the body as a specific against fleshly indulgence, they thought in terms of the Greek antithesis between body and soul. But this is not Paul’s thought. When he speaks of ‘unsparing treatment of the body’ he means the body in its ordinary sense; but when he speaks of ‘indulgence of the flesh’ he means the old Adam-nature in its rebellion against God.”

I think that as Christians, we, too, can be lulled by our own external appearance of spirituality into a false sense of security. Whether due to a title, i.e. pastor, elder, leader, etc., church attendance or the collection of Christian books on our bookshelves, we let these superficial aspects of our faith become definitive. But Jesus had only one criterion for real spirituality: the things that flow from our heart. In Matthew 15, Jesus was confronted with similar hypocrisy in regards to the ceremonial washing of hands, to which He responded: “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Going on, Jesus then declared, “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

To guard against such error, it would be helpful to ask oneself these questions every once in a while: “Who would I be if my title were to be taken away? Is God active in the areas of my life that others do not see, such as my thoughts? What things do I do when no one is around?” Such questions dig through the veneer and force us to confront the true state of our heart.

Prayer: God, help me to know that just because other people think I’m ok doesn’t necessarily mean that I am ok, because there’s so much that others do not see. Help me to be brutally honest with myself and with You. Challenge me in any area of my life where my heart has grown cold, hypocritical or complacent. Help my lips to be in sync with my heart, so that my worship and lifestyle may be true. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Titus 3

October 7, Saturday

REPOSTToday’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was first posted on August 20, 2016. Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“What It Means to be a Disciple of Christ”

John 8:31-32

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; ³²and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

There are many images used in Scripture to describe the Christians’ relationship with God. To name a few, we are children, priests, salt and light. But one of the most important is that of a disciple. A disciple is a student – one who not only believes in but also learns from, follows, and obeys his/her teacher. All throughout the New Testament, we are called to be disciples of Jesus. But how many of us are answering that call?

In an article written for the C.S. Lewis Institute, pastor and author Timothy Keller explains what it truly means to be a disciple of Jesus. First, it means “setting a new priority” – Jesus is of first importance in our lives and we, forsaking all others, follow Him no matter the cost. Often times we want Jesus as our Savior, but not our Lord. We want to be saved from hell, but still want to do things our own way. But, “Jesus is Lord because he’s savior [and] He’s Savior because He’s Lord.” Keller explains that attempting to split the two is as nonsensical as inviting a friend named Barbara Boyd into your home but insisting that only Barbara come in, while Boyd remains outside. Furthermore, it’s silly for us to treat the God who created and sustains the universe as a personal assistant.

Second, discipleship means “finding a new identity.” Keller explains: “Discipleship is not just a matter of bending your will to Jesus’ will; it’s melting your heart into a whole new shape.” We are literally transformed as we follow Christ – our desires change, our thoughts change, and we changealong the way. And finally, this is all possible because discipleship means “living a new mercy.” Look back over the years, and you will see that when people want to atone for their sins and be forgiven, they put a sacrifice on the altar and burn it with fire! There’s something inside us that intuitively says, “That can’t be enough to put away sins.” That’s right. All those fires were pointing to this fire [God’s judgment of Jesus in our place on the cross]…[that] came down on Jesus Christ. He came to take it. He came to bear it.

This is what it means to be a disciple. But are we living this way – with Christ as supreme priority (not work, family, comfort, etc.), being transformed into Christ’s likeness (when others see us, they see Him), and living in the fullness of the forgiveness of sin (not in guilt, shame, or reckless sinfulness)? Will you answer the call? Will you continue in the way of discipleship? May you experience the abundant life and freedom promised to all those who follow Him.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, my life is Yours. I am your disciple. Possess me completely. Teach me to surrender all I am and all I have and transform me to be more like You, in light of Your abundant grace and mercy. Thank You for forgiving my sins and making me new. In Your name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Titus 1-2

October 6, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on April 14, 2017, is written by Pastor David Son who pastors the Thrive Church in Taipei. He is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley (BA) and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Stay up to date with the church by following them here: https://www.instagram.com/thrivechurchtaipei/

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Lamb of God”

John 1:35-36

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

Not only is the Bald Eagle the national animal for the United States, but the majestic bird is also a cultural symbol representing freedom and strength. Where people from other nations/cultures might see a mere bird, Americans understand the special and profound effect that the bald eagle has in stirring up patriotic emotions.

In a similar way, lambs had a certain special and profound effect on the Jewish people in the first century. To us today, a lamb is just a lamb. But every Jew would have understood that lambs represented sacrifice and atonement. Since the days of Moses, and for generations upon generations, the blood of lambs was the means of forgiveness for the Jewish people for their sins against God. And while wool and meat were some of the secondary provisions from lambs, the primary symbolism of lambs during those times was to remember the grace of God and the forgiveness of sin.

So it must have been strange for his disciples to hear John the Baptist proclaim, regarding Jesus, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” Interesting choice of animal to describe a fellow rabbi! John could have said, “Lion of God” or “Eagle of God,” but he said, “Lamb of God.” John understood something that few people understood at the time, and we only understand in hindsight: Jesus came to offer atonement for us. He is indeed the Lamb of God.

Many years ago, Jesus submitted Himself to death on a cross. Spend some time this morning coming to Jesus and thanking Him for being our perfect Lamb.

Prayer: Jesus, we thank You for Your sacrifice. Thank You for being the Lamb of God. As we go through this day, we remind ourselves that we are where we are because of what You have done for us. In Your name I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 24

Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 2:5-8: Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Questions to Consider

What is Paul’s primary command in this passage?
According to the passage, what actions did Jesus take (although he was God)?
How can we have the mindset of Jesus?

Notes

Paul’s primary command for his readers is found in the first clause: “Have this mind among yourselves….” In other words, he is about to tell us the type of attitude we should have.
When we observe the verbs in this passage, we see that although Jesus was God,
- He did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped
- He emptied Himself
- He took the form of a servant
- He humbled Himself
- He became obedient
Paul’s intention is not for us to literally hang ourselves on a cross. But he exhorts us to have the mindset of Christ, which is to consider others’ needs more than our own, to empty ourselves, take on the form of a servant, humble ourselves, and become obedient to the Lord. This is something we can all do, in both big and small ways!

Evening Reflection

A popular praise song goes like this: “I remind myself of all that you’ve done, and the live I have because of your Son.” This evening, spend some time reminding yourself of what Jesus did for you on the cross, and the life you have because of His sacrifice.

October 5, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Doug Tritton, was first posted on October 5, 2017. A graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), Doug is the Lead Pastor of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Clothed with Christ”

Genesis 9:20-25

Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. 21 He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. 23 Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. 24 When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, 25 he said, “Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.”

A common nightmare people have is finding themselves naked while outside. Why is this dream so common? Why is this a fear so many people have? Maybe you’ve had a dream like this before. Likely, this fear of public nakedness stems from the Fall, when Adam and Eve ate from the tree of Good and Evil and realized their nakedness and, thus, covered themselves.

The passage for today seems to be echoing that shame felt by Adam and Eve. Noah lay drunk and naked, vulnerable, and is found by his son Ham. However, rather than covering his father, he tries to humiliate him further by calling his brothers over. But instead of joining Ham in humiliating Noah, his brothers do the loving thing and cover their father. Just like God covered Adam and Eve with clothes after the Fall, Noah’s sons Shem and Japheth cover their father in his shame.

Being covered by others is an act of love. Because of the Fall, there is sin in us but God’s desire is to cover us in love. He does not want to strip us, to bring us back to that place of nakedness. Rather, God’s desire is to swallow our shame up in His love. Galatians 3:27 says, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” The Greek word for “put on” can also mean “clothe”, so God’s desire is for us to be clothed in Christ. Just like Adam and Eve were clothed by God, God wants to clothe us in Christ, to swallow up our shame in love.

Let us today remember our God who does not mock us in our sin and shame, but covers us and swallows up our shame in love.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that do not leave us abandoned in our nakedness and shame as Ham did to Noah, but You lovingly cover us. And more than that, You cover us in Christ, transforming us into new people, a people without shame or guilt. May we not forget this reality in our lives. Help us to let shame control our lives, but let us live in the freedom You have given to us. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 23

Lunch Break Study

Read Galatians 3:26-27: for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Questions to Consider

What is the means of us becoming children of God, according to this passage?
What is the connection between being baptized into Christ and putting on Christ?
How can you immerse yourself in Jesus today?

Notes

This passage tells us that we are children of God through faith. Through faith in Jesus, we enter into God’s plan for us, His plan to call us sons and daughters, bringing us into His beloved family.
Being baptized into Christ essentially means to enter into Him, to have our identity swallowed up in Him. So, when we are baptized in Christ, Christ surrounds us, and, thus, we are putting Him on, like we put on clothes. Faith really then is not about simply belief, but about immersing ourselves, our whole life, into Jesus.
My prayer is that you may throw yourself at the feet of Jesus in intimacy today, not just momentarily, but continually. Draw near to Him, for His love is great! In every area of your live, be immersed in Jesus!

Evening Reflection

Tonight, perhaps you are putting on pajamas or other bedtime clothes. Imagine putting on Christ, like an article of clothing. That is the intimacy that Jesus desires to share with us! Immerse yourself in Jesus tonight, that you may sleep securely in His love.

October 4, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional QT, first posted on October 18, 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

“It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time . . .”

Genesis 13:10-13

And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. 12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom.13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.

“It seemed like a good idea at the time…” is the start of many stories of regret. For me, every time I drive by a KFC or Popeyes, it seems like a great idea to go and get a bucket of some fried chicken; but every time I’ve done it, it’s ended up in regret because of an upset stomach or a debilitating food coma. Whether it’s making that purchase, going to that particular event, hanging out with that crowd, or dating that person, all of these things that we regret later on started off as great ideas.

I could imagine this is what Lot was thinking as he surveyed the land that was before him: His uncle Abram had offered to let him choose the land that he would settle in, so Genesis tells us that Lot “lifted his eyes.” He looked up at the Jordan Valley, and at the time, it seemed like a great idea to take the land that was green and lush and well watered, making a decision based on what his eyes were fixed on. But what was a great idea at the time ended up in disaster, as we discover later in Genesis 19. And that disaster came because while Lot’s eyes saw the lush and well watered land, they failed to notice what the people there were like: verse 13 notes that Lot’s neighbors of Sodom were wicked and great sinners.

The story of Lot is a warning for us to avoid lives of regret and to not make choices based on what our human eyes can see. Every bad decision that has ever been made seemed like a good idea at the time because every bad decision is made based on what we see with our own eyes. When we it comes to the crossroads of our lives, when there are decisions to be made—big or small—instead of trusting our own eyes or our own point of view, we need to depend on the perspective of the One who can see all.

Prayer: Jesus, help me through every decision I make today. I don’t want to look back on this day with regret, but instead, I pray that You will help me to choose to follow You and find joy in my walk with You this day. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 22

Lunch Bible Study

Read Ephesians 5:15-17: Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Questions to Consider

Why should we be careful about how we walk?
What does “making the best use of time” have to do with walking carefully or living with wisdom?
How can we make the most of every decision in our lives with wisdom?

Notes

Paul is telling us to be careful because “the days are evil.” When he says “look carefully then how you walk,” it’s a picture of walking on a dangerous path where it might be easy to slip and fall. So this exhortation to be careful how we walk is because the days are evil and it’s easy to stumble or slip if we’re not careful and intentional about how we live our lives.
“Making the best use of time” can also be understood as “making the most of every opportunity.” In an economic sense, it would be like trying to maximize the amount of money we make in every sale or deal. But when it comes to our spiritual lives, it means living our lives in such a way that maximizes God’s glory and our own joy. And so when Paul is exhorting us to live with wisdom, it means that we should walk carefully and intentionally, in such a way that we don’t slip and fall but that God is glorified, and we find joy in our relationship with Him.
We should do as Paul commands and look carefully how we walk, but we should also note what he says at the end of verse 17: “understand what the will of the Lord is.” In any decision we make, big or small, whether it’s what job to take or what to eat for lunch, we should seek to understand God’s will for us.

Evening Reflection

Consider some of the choices you made today. Were they wise decisions or do you regret some of them already? While we are encouraged to walk carefully with wisdom, we should not expect to walk perfectly on this side of heaven. Bring your successes and failures of today to Jesus and thank Him for his grace.

October 3, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provide by Pastor Peter Yoon of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego, was first posted on October 10, 2017. Peter is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Building in Vain”

Genesis 11:4

Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”

Do you know the nickname of the city where you live? Mine is named, “America’s finest city.” If you don’t know your city’s nickname, perhaps you can find it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_city_nicknames_in_the_United_States.

Many cities in the US are given nicknames that reveal their civic identities. These nicknames can sometimes provide a sense of community for its residents as well as a sense of civic pride. I do sense a bit of pride about my city having its nickname. Does your city’s nickname give you a sense of pride?

Well, the ancient people also wanted a city with a proud nickname. They congregated together and said to themselves, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens.” The ancient people actually believed that heavens were not too far above the earth. They believed that if only they could build a tower to the sky, they would be allowed to climb up and be like gods themselves.

The story of the Tower of Babel is unfortunately another story of man’s rebellion against the Creator. The story shows an obvious difference between the human opinion of self-achievement versus God’s viewpoint of such activities. In God’s perspective, all human cooperation when it is fueled by autonomy and directed towards self-interest is shallow and impotent. (Mathews, NAC: Genesis)

That can also be said of our lives. We might choose to live a life of autonomy from our God aimed at promoting our name, but it is precisely this life that comes to a crashing devastation. Jesus once asked: “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”

Is the life you’ve been given one that is lived in autonomy, or is it lived in an on-going dependence on God? Can a person close to you observe your life and know that you live for God or live for yourself?

If you were a city, what would be your nickname?

Prayer: Lord, I depend on Your Spirit to fill me and guide me today. I ask you even for my “daily bread” knowing that You are my Provider. Help me to live a life that glorifies and magnifies Your name more than any other name on earth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 21

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 127:1-2 (NIV): Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.Unless the Lord watches over the city,the guards stand watch in vain.2 In vain you rise early and stay up late,toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves.

Questions to Consider

Think about the phrase “in vain,” which is repeatedly used in these passages. Why does the psalmist come to this conclusion that unless the Lord is involved, your efforts end “in vain”?
Substitute the word “house” with “family.” In what ways is the Lord building your family? Or substitute the word “city” with “children.” In what ways do you ask the Lord to stand watch over your children?

Notes

All help, all protection, and all blessing come from God; without Him all labor, care, and trouble are vain.
In providing care for children as parents, it is easy to assume that we know what’s best or that we are in control. While it is important to care and provide for our children, the Lord directs us to teach His commands to our children as the most important work as parents.

Evening Reflection

What area of your life still remains autonomous from the Lord? Consider how you can yield that area of your life to the Lord.

October 2, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Doug Tritton, was first posted on October 2, 2017. A graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), Doug is the Lead Pastor of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Be Fruitful and Multiply”

Genesis 9:1

And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.”

This command that God gave Noah (which is an echo of the command He gave to mankind upon creation) is called the “Creation Mandate.” Most of mankind had been wiped out by the flood, and so Noah and his family had the responsibility to repopulate the land. Though God commands Noah and mankind to do this, this command is really a sign of love. This is God giving mankind the opportunity to join with Him in creation.

I am a terrible painter—give me a brush, paint, and canvas and maybe I’ll make some “modern art” but, really, there won’t be anything intelligible on that canvas. But if I go to one of those paint nights where an instructor leads me in painting a picture, I can actually make something that looks almost good. By analogy, this Creation Mandate is an opportunity to create, though it really is God who is at work behind us all.

However, in the New Testament, the Creation Mandate changed. Rather than, “Be fruitful and multiply,” the command is now, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” We join in the work of God’s creation by making disciples of Jesus, people who are formed into a new creation, who will populate a New Heaven and New Earth. But again, it is God who at work through us—He is the true Creator. Let’s remember that God is still creating and we join in His creation by making disciples, by helping people to know there is a God who wants to transform them into a new creation.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for allowing us to join with You in the continuing act of creation. May we be faithful to this opportunity You have given us. But help us to remember that we do not do this on our own; rather, You are the One who is at work. So, Lord, this day, help us to go and make disciples, to join with You in populating your New Heaven and New Earth. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 20

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 28:28-20: And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Questions to Consider

What does it mean that Jesus was given “all authority in heaven and on earth”?
With this authority, what does Jesus command His disciples to do?
What is Jesus’ comfort to us as we go about fulfilling this command?

Notes

Jesus had just been resurrected after being murdered on the cross. This resurrection was Jesus’ victory, vindicating His message that the Kingdom of God had arrived. Having gone to the cross, thus fulfilling the mission of the Father, Jesus had now taken His place as the exalted King and, as King, all authority belonged to Him.
Go and make disciples! Before the cross, Jesus had gone and made disciples, but now that His mission was complete, He gave a new mission to His disciples: to continue the work of making more disciples, and thus to prepare a people who belong to God.
Jesus is with us! We do not go out alone, but we go out knowing that God is with us. The Spirit is at work in us, the Spirit that Jesus sent to us so that we could continue His work. So, we do not fear as we make disciples because God is the One working through us!

Evening Reflection

Before going to sleep tonight, ask God to bring to mind one or two people who you would love to see become disciples of Jesus. Ask God for help in reaching out to them and pray for God to move their hearts so that they may know Him.

October 1, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on October 1, 2016, is written by Pastor David Son who pastors the Thrive Church in Taipei. He is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley (BA) and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Stay up to date with the church by following them here: https://www.instagram.com/thrivechurchtaipei/

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“A Very False Christ”

John 19:4-16

Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.

There is a man living in Brazil who calls himself Inri Christo. Taking his first name from the acronym written on the cross of Jesus, “INRI,” and his last name, meaning “Christ,” he believes himself to be the second coming of Jesus Christ. While fasting in Santiago, Chile, in 1979, Inri claims to have heard a voice, saying, “I am your father, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” It was at this moment that he realized his divinity. Subsequently, Inri has acquired somewhat of a following, and continues to make appearances around Brazil as a spiritual leader.

Take a moment and soak this in: How can someone have the audacity to claim to be the Son of God? Not only is he lost in his blasphemous delusion, he has also misled many people who actually believe his nonsense. If I ever meet Inri, I would surely give him a piece of my mind.

But if you think about it, two thousand years ago, a man from Nazareth, named Jesus, claimed to be the Son of God. If we put this in perspective, it’s not hard to see why the Pharisees, chief priests, and scribes wanted to have Jesus killed: He was claiming to be God! Over the past weeks, we have been looking at the life and ministry of Jesus through the Gospel of John. After reading, we must come to a decision for ourselves. Was He a phony like Inri Christo? Or, is He truly the genuine Son of God?

In our passage today, Pontius Pilate found himself at this very crossroads. We can tell that in his interactions with Jesus, it began to dawn on Pilate that this was no ordinary man. But since the Jewish leaders were pressuring him hard, Pilate had a choice to make, and at the end of the day he chose to remain passive. While he wasn’t the one yelling, “Crucify Him,” he ultimately decided that it was too risky to intervene, and as a result, lose his posh job; so, he handed Jesus over to be crucified.

There are people all around us today who scoff at the notion that Jesus was God. For those of us who do follow Him, this is the question we must ask and answer, not just once for salvation, but each day as we follow Him. Are we going to live today as if Jesus is truly the Son of God? Or will we take the passive route that Pilate took?

Prayer: Lord, we know that it isn’t by our own strength or wisdom that we came to know you, but rather, in your grace, you knew us first. We repent for all the days we have spent taking the passive route, living as if You didn’t exist. We remind ourselves today of your Lordship over our lives. Come and be our King. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 19