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

September 30, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Christine Li, was first posted on August 13, 2016. Christine, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“How Some People Plan Their Vacations”

John 6:24

“So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats, and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus.”

Recently, I met a visitor to our church, a lady from Belgium in town for the weekend. As I chatted with her, I learned that she and her husband had specifically planned their vacation to attend Chris Tomlin’s Worship Night concert. Incredulous, I asked whether the concert was worth the trip. She affirmed that the trip was definitely worth it, as the concert was “very encouraging.”

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never planned any international trip for a mere weekend, let alone to just attend a concert! This couple came to the United States, traveling at least eight hours, to gather with other believers for a 1-2 hour concert. But to them, this was enough encouragement and blessing to warrant all that effort.

After Jesus’ miracle with the fish and loaves, the crowds were eager to see Jesus and more signs and wonders that He would perform. They were so interested to see more of Him that they could not just stay on the mountain and talk about yesterday’s miracles. They had to follow Him across the sea just for another taste of His glory. While their motives turned out to be somewhat mixed (Jn. 6:26-30), we cannot help but marvel at their efforts to see Jesus.

I felt challenged after conversing with this sister in Christ to re-evaluate how I seek the Lord. When I approach Him, does it happen conveniently between my habits and in my schedule? And do I wholeheartedly leave my world behind to know Him a little better?

To follow Him means that we will do whatever it takes to learn more about Him, see Him, and know Him. Let’s encourage each other to go meet Jesus with diligent and eager attention. We will never be disappointed when we draw near to Him.

Prayer: Lord, You are worthy of my best efforts. I confess that I do not always approach You with my full attention or a willingness to disrupt my schedule to be with You. Help me be hungrier for You, Lord, so that I will seek You with all my heart and find You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 17-18

September 29, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional QT, first posted on September 29, 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

“What Scripture Says About Work”

Genesis 2:4-9 (NIV)

This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. 5 Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, 6 but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. 7 Then the Lord God formed a man w from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. 8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin j and onyx are also there.) 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

I think it surprises some people that the Bible has so much to say about work and how relevant it is to us today—even after thousands of years. From the very first pages of Genesis, we are told that God finished His work of creation and then rested on the seventh day. In most religious views of the world, work is something that is beneath the gods and reserved for lowly humans to undertake; but in the Christian worldview, God literally gets His hands dirty and forms man from the very dust. And you can see from today’s passage that the very first thing that God does for man is to share His love for work with him. Genesis 2:15 states, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” What should be readily apparent is that this mandate was given to humanity before the Fall—that is, before the introduction of sin in the world. This is important for many reasons, but the key theological lesson to be taken from this sequence of events is that work itself is not the curse. Work, like everything else God created, is good but what has been cursed by sin is how man relates to work.

Solomon, after a lifetime of striving and toil, comes to realize one of the most important truths in life: that work of all types is a gift from God. If you can believe this at the bottom of your heart, life becomes less burdensome, more enjoyable, and certainly more fulfilling. One of the worst feelings in life is the sense that your work doesn’t matter or that you are not being as productive as you can be. How many of us feel good after wasting a day browsing the internet and putting off work that we should be taking care? On the flip side, there is a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction in a job well done and knowing that your work is significant. This is what Tim Keller writes about the importance of work in our lives: Without meaningful work we sense significant inner loss and emptiness. People who are cut off from work because of physical or other reasons quickly discover how much they need work to thrive emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

Your ability to work is a gift from God and has the potential to help you flourish. Unfortunately, many of us are not experiencing these blessings from our work. Instead of work causing us to thrive, it is actually having the opposite effect, causing emotional damage, physical exhaustion, and spiritual stagnation. Although all of us know the importance of work, this fact is actually more of a burden than a blessing, and for some, a major source of unhappiness. So if work is a gift from God, why is it also a source of so much frustration? It comes down to the fact that we often can have a sinful relationship with work. We can fall into the trap of deriving our identity from our jobs or becoming workaholics, or conversely—becoming lazy. Whatever the case may be, the solution to the problem of work is given to us by the apostle Paul in Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, and not human masters…”

Prayer: Father, we thank You for the gift of work. Help us to have the appropriate perspective regarding our jobs and careers, and that it would not become an ultimate priority but something we do for Your glory. We confess that it is all too easy to simply work for ourselves or for our employers, forgetting that all our efforts should be directed towards the One who gave us the opportunity and the ability to accomplish fulfilling work. Today, at our places of work, may we be a good testimony of Your goodness by the way we engage with those around us. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 16

Lunch Break Study

Read Colossians 3:22-4:1 (NIV): Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism. 4:1Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Questions to Consider

Is this passage advocating slavery or unjust employment practices?
How should Christians relate to their employers?
If you are a Christian employer, how should you relate to your workers?

Notes

This passage has often been used improperly to justify the practice of chattel slavery. However, this form of forced slavery was not what Paul was alluding to. In the Ancient Middle East, many people became indentured servants to pay back debt or deal with other financial hardships. These verses were never meant to promote a stoic acceptance of unfair practices in the workplace.
This passage gives us great insight in terms of the attitude that we should have towards our employers. We should work diligently, even when we are not under direct supervision and be sincere towards them. In the end, a proper work ethic is derived from our reverence for God and the knowledge that we will be rewarded beyond our earthly paychecks if we work as unto the Lord.
I have sometimes witnessed Christians being poor managers, bosses, and employers. This is a sinful waste of a wonderful opportunity to influence those whom God has entrusted into your care. We are to treat our employees with equity, care, and compassion, because this is the way that our Master in heaven treats us.

Evening Reflection

It is so easy to dismiss our work as being insignificant. When I was working in the corporate world, it was easy to say things like “another day, another dollar.” As harmless as this may seem, it revealed a certain attitude that I had in my heart towards my job. In the end, this showed a very low view of the work and opportunity that God had given me. What is your attitude towards your job and your employer? Are you able to rest at the end of the week, knowing that you have worked with all your heart?

September 28, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on September 28, 2017, is provided by Pastor David Kwon who leads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. David is a graduate of Drexel University (B.S.) and Columbia International University (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The God Who Remembers”

Genesis 8:1

But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark.

A few months ago, I read in the news about a family and their friends who went for a fun filled day at a local amusement park. After experiencing many thrilling rides and enjoying the company of other friends and children, one of the parents realized that they had forgotten their child somewhere in the park! After a frantic search, the young boy was found safely at the security office enjoying himself to ice cream and cotton candy. I hope that as a parent that never happens in my life because one of the most despairing feelings is being forgotten.

In today’s passage, we are told, “God remembered Noah and all the animals that were in the ark.” When Moses writes of the Lord “remembering,” he does not mean that God forgot about Noah. Wherever Scripture uses the phrase God remembered, it is the sense of God taking action on His promises. When God was about to destroy the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, He “remembered Abraham” and spared Lot on his behalf (Gen. 19:29). When God remembers Noah in the ark, it points to God’s faithfulness. From our point of view, it may seem like God forgot. Perhaps He has been silent for a long while; but He will act on our behalf in His time. He remembers; He is faithful to those who are His.

What does this mean for us? First, we can have hope that God is faithful to His promises. His love is constant, His forgiveness is unconditional; He is a Father who provides for us, and He is strong and mighty to save. These are just a few of the promises made in Scripture that the Lord has declared to us. Second, we are never forgotten. The Cross reminds us that we are eternally His and even though He may seem silent in moments of our lives, He has never forgotten about us; it should encourage us that He is constantly working for our good.

Take sometime this morning and remember the unwavering promises of God for your life. Have hope and be encouraged that He stays the same – yesterday, today and forevermore.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 15

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 19:1-10: He entered Jericho and was passing through.2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature.4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.”6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Questions to Consider

What do we see about Zacchaeus?
Why do you think Zacchaeus changed so dramatically?
What do we learn about Jesus?

Notes

We see that Zacchaeus was quite wealthy, but he was searching for something more or something entirely different. That is the reason why he was so determined to see Jesus and what He really offered.
He realized that Jesus was the Savior and that He offered abundant life. Zacchaeus received Jesus joyfully and repented of his sin which resulted him giving away half of his goods to the poor. His life was transformed which is what happens when we encounter the risen Jesus.
The Lord knew Zacchaeus and called him by name. In the midst of a large crowd He knew what Zacchaeus needed. That is the same for us today.

Evening Reflection

Spend some time remembering the promises of God. Thank Jesus for his kindness and faithfulness in your life today.

September 27, Wednesday

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Seeing Gray in a World of Black & White,” or is it “Seeing Black & White in a Gray World”?

Romans 14:5-8a, 10, 12 (ESV)

One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. . ..

10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. . .. 12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

I first saw the image of the infamous duck/rabbit in a book touting the merits of postmodernism, a worldview that sees the world as ambiguous, as shades of gray; unsurprisingly, the book saw the picture as not a duck or rabbit but both. The other image shows a world of black and white, colors that represent an unambiguous world with absolute objective truths and values where things often cannot be true simultaneously. One or the other must be true or false.

How do you see the world? Most of us reading this blog see the world as black and white. You may protest, but if your answer to “Is Jesus the only way to salvation?” is “yes” (Acts 4:12; Jn. 14:6), then you do. Nonetheless, today’s passage indicates that not all issues are that clear. These are called “disputable” matters and believers are instructed to treat two or more opposing positions as equally rational. In the church in Rome, the two disputable matters were, first, whether to eat kosher (the traditional Jews said “no” while the liberated ones said “yes”), and second, whether to observe certain Jewish holy days. Paul then reminds the believers, each having formed a position based on his or her own conviction, not to belittle or despise those with whom they disagree; ultimately, it is God who will judge them all and the views they hold.

What about social issues? While the scriptural positions on matters such as abortion (Ps. 139:13-4) and homosexuality (Rom. 1:26-7; 1 Cor. 6:9; 1 Tim. 1:10) may seem quite clear, the recent election highlighted several social issues that are not clearly delineated in Scripture. Two election issues that riled up many Americans were President-elect Donald Trump’s stances on “illegal immigration” and the inflow of Muslim refugees. Certainly, dismissing Trump’s generalization that “illegal immigrants are killing thousands of people” is easy, but is it xenophobic to oppose illegal immigration itself? It is good that we understand Muslim Americans who feel threatened by Trump’s proposal to create a Muslim registry, but is it Islamophobic to desire better security measures to discourage some Muslims in the US from becoming violently radicalized and keeping the radicalized ones from entering America?

How should Christians think concerning these matters? Should we care? Yes, of course, for there are over 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the US, half of whom come from Mexico; there are over 2.6 million Muslims in the States (2010) whose population is expected to more than double by 2030.

While illegal immigration and keeping radicalized Muslim refugees from entering the US may be a law and order matter to politicians, we must also bring our hearts into such issues—that is to say that understanding intellectual as well as emotional matters in such controversies are both important. Having lived in Mexico for a decade and preached in several Hispanic churches in America, I have friends in Mexico who were deported, losing everything in the process; I’ve shared meals with illegal immigrants in the States who live in constant fear; I even stayed an entire week with a lonesome family in Mexico without a household father because he had long left home in search of a job in America. As for Muslims, I have travelled to several Islamic countries multiple times, which has led me to sometimes disagree with those who say Muslims are particularly more violent. All I saw were regular people busy making a living, presumably in order to put food on the table for their kids.

As we explore these and other matters as part of January devotionals, I hope you give some serious thought and prayer to such things and perhaps even begin a dialogue with unauthorized immigrants and Muslims in your neighborhood. The world is changing; thus, it’s imperative that we respond biblically and compassionately—armed with God’s eternal truth, led by the Spirit, and undergirded by the love of Christ.

Prayer: Father, as our nation is going through many tumultuous changes, please help us, the believers, to be clear minded and not “think” only emotionally. Please help us to be wise and cogent when it comes to thinking about social issues. And help us to love and respect those with whom we disagree. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 14

Lunch Break Study

Read John 16:33 (ESV):“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.”

Mt. 10:34: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

Heb. 11:6a: “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists.”

Ps. 14:1a: “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”

1 Cor. 13:9-10: “For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.” (I agree with John MacArthur who sees “the perfect” as heaven.)

Questions to Consider

1. Which pair of the above passages is a matter of both/and, that is, statements which appear to be contradictory but are to be accepted as equally true?

2. Which pair of the above passages is a matter of either/or, that is, if one is true, then its opposite is necessarily false?

3. Based on 1 Cor. 13:9-10, should we believe that our own view is always right while those of others are not?

Note

1. Both John 16:33 that says in Jesus we may have peace (since his atoning death appeased God’s wrath aimed at sinners—Rom. 5:1), and Matthew 10:34 that says Jesus came to gives us a sword (i.e., “God opposes the proud”—James 4:6), are to be accepted as equally valid.

2. While Hebrews 11:6 that says, “God exists” is to be accepted, its opposite, “There is no God,” is to be rejected as invalid. Note that the more essential an issue, the Scriptures pronounce that a matter of either/or.

3. We must realize that while living on earth, our knowledge is limited by human finiteness and sinfulness. We know some things but not everything, and what we think we know is not always accurate or complete. Stay humble.

Evening Reflection

Before turning in the night, ask God for a compassionate heart toward those who live in fear (and not just illegal immigrants or Muslims). If you are that person, remember that “perfect love drives out fear” (1 Jn. 4:18) and God’s love for you is perfect.

Ask God for wisdom to really grapple with these disputable social issues. Make a request to the Lord for a right attitude that does not unfairly judge those with whom you disagree over disputable matters. Remember what the apostle Paul says under the Spirit’s inspiration: “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God” (Rom. 15:7).

September 26, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on September 26, 2017, is provided by Hee Jung Lee. Hee Jung, a graduate of Biblical Theological Seminary, serves at Catalyst Agape Church (New Jersey) along with her husband Pastor Sam Lee. They have four beautiful daughters.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Just a glimpse”

Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.

Jonah 1:1

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord. …

Very recently, my family—along with many friends— watched a play called “Jonah,” at Sight and Sound Theater in Pennsylvania. Now Jonah is not necessarily a Bible figure that I personally admired, because he did not come across as one who was after God’s heart, like David, Daniel, and Nehemiah. However, as I watched the play, I began to relate with this character more than I had when reading through the book of Jonah.

In the play, the story goes that Jonah had not heard from the Lord in 17 years. He was a prophet of that time, which means that God’s people relied on him as a messenger of God—to be God’s voice for them. To their dismay, the Lord had not given him a word for a long period. God was silent. So, Jonah in his earnest desire to hear from the Lord seeks Him every day, devoting himself to God in his room. Then one day, the moment came when, finally, the Lord speaks to Jonah. In his initial moment of encounter with the Lord (as highlighted in the play), he is ecstatic beyond words and marvelously delighted (although he eventually realizes what God is asking of him to do).

In a similar way, we should live in such singular pursuit of God, longing to experience and see God. Just one glimpse of God’s glory or one word from Him is like a refreshing drop of water to a thirsty soul. It refreshes life in us and revives us to purposefulness; it deeply satisfies, taking away restlessness and discontentment. Someone asked me recently at a meeting if I am always consumed with wanting an encounter with God; and if I am honest with myself, the answer is probably yes! This is not because I believe that God is far, by any means. I know that His very Spirit lives in me, but there is an unrelenting hunger and cry to have the eyes to see God. There should be a cry in our souls that we will be purified in order that all of Christ will shine and be so evident. This is the true blessedness of life: to have the purity of heart to see God ever so present and actively engaging among us.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, how lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord! I love Your presence and You are everything that my soul really needs. Thank You for loving me so richly. Please purify every part of me in order that Christ might shine through me, bringing myself and others into deeper encounters with You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 13

Lunch Break Study

Read John 1:14: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Mark 4:18: And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Questions to consider

1. Recall the last moments that you encountered God through His Word, prayer, presence, or experience.

2. What are some things in your heart that may be keeping you from being able to see God?

3. What are the things and desires that has been consuming you lately?

Notes

1. Every relationship has a history that is shared, though some may be longer than others. It is helpful to call to mind key moments that you have shared with the Lord as it enriches your relationship.

2.. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you any impurities in your heart that prevent you from seeing God (i.e., unbelief, unforgiveness, cynicism, etc.), and ask Him to cleanse you.

3. If God is not on the forefront of our longings, then this means that there are competing things. Ask the Lord to show you the things that may be competing for your passion and heart. Read Matthew 22:37.

Evening Reflection

This morning, we began by reflecting on desiring purity of heart in order to see more of God in our lives. In the light of this sharing, how were you able to see God today?