September 15, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 4, 2017.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Open Borders or Walls?

Numbers 21:22-3 (NIV)

Israel sent messengers to say to Sihon king of the Amorites: 22 “Let us pass through your country. We will not turn aside into any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.”23 But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. He mustered his entire army and marched out into the wilderness against Israel. When he reached Jahaz, he fought with Israel.

Having crossed different US-Mexico borders hundreds of times in several states, I’ve seen tall fences and even walls.  So, President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to build a wall along the 2,000-mile US-Mexico border isn’t an entirely new idea.  In contrast, some push for open-borders, while others advocate—in effect—a similar stance by opposing measures aimed to curve illegal immigration.  Regrettably, Trump’s wall (seemingly a logistic nightmare) beclouds the more fundamental question of whether America, as a sovereign country, has the right to secure its borders.  How should a believer think on this matter?

Last September, there was nothing out of the ordinary as I applied for a visa to enter an E. Asia country for the umpteenth time, until the replay came a day later—the $25 visa fee had jumped five times!  I was upset but that’s as far as it went: to enter any country as a foreigner, you must play by their rules, not yours.  You don’t have to like it and that’s your prerogative; sovereign states can place any stipulations they deem justifiable and that’s their prerogative.  A sovereign state has the right to admit only those who satisfy the requirements placed on them, even if they seem unfair to the outsiders.  The U.S. has that right inasmuch as Mexico who guards her southern borders with Guatemala even more tightly; in fact, no mercy granted! 

State sovereignty is not a new concept—just ask Moses who, as the leader of a new nation on the move (from Egypt to Canaan) in the 15th century B.C., clearly understood that the Israelites couldn’t just barge into the sovereign state of the Amorites.  Therefore, he asked King Sihon for an official permit to pass through his land, assuring the king that they would not to take any of his nation’s resources.  The fact that Sihon still perceived Israel as a hostile entity makes sense geopolitically, prompting him to defend his nation’s border.    

Having immigrated from S. Korea as a teenager in 1974 and now a naturalized U.S. citizen, the Lord has blessed my life in America, a nation that has enjoyed God’s favor for a long time: its educational system, freedom to worship, and job market are equal to none.  No wonder so many people desire to come to this land of opportunity any way they can.  That, however, does not mean that anyone outside of this sovereign state has the right to cross the border illegally, without passport or visa.  Some of us can dedicate themselves to be an advocate of change so that more people can enter this nation legally; but to call U.S. an anti-immigrant and xenophobic country for not permitting open borders is to hold America to a different standard not applied to other nations.

Having said all this, as kingdom people, we have good news to proclaim to those around us: that God breaks down the “dividing wall of hostility” among men (Eph. 2:14), because the veil separating all of us from a holy God has long been torn in two by Christ (Heb. 10:19).  Set your goals high: long to be a citizen of heaven (Phil. 3:20)—a far better place than America.

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

Bible Reading for Today: John 21

Lunch Break Study

Read Deuteronomy 2:30-3: But Sihon the king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him, for the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that he might give him into your hand, as he is this day. 31 And the Lord said to me, ‘Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land over to you. Begin to take possession, that you may occupy his land.’ 32 Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Jahaz. 33 And the Lord our God gave him over to us, and we defeated him and his sons and all his people . . ..

James 1:13-4: When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.

Questions to Consider

1. When Sihon refuses to let the Israelites pass, God reveals to Moses His plan, which meant that Israel needed to respond militarily to Sihon’s attack.  James 1:13 says that God does not tempt anyone but here, it says that God hardened the spirit of Sihon.  What do you think happened first?

2. Geopolitically speaking, how would you describe what happened here?  In other words, what is the worst way to settle any border dispute? (Those of you who are old enough remember, does Falkland Islands debacle ring a bell?).

3. What is one sure way to make certain that we do not reach a point where God hardens our heart (Rom. 1:24-6; 2 Thess. 2:11-2)?

Note

1. God does not harden our hearts first.  In the case of Sihon, it was he who first decided to be inhospitable toward Moses, who clearly made no threatening move.  Sihon immediately launched an all out war against a people who merely wanted to pass through.  Only when this king wouldn’t relent from his ill-advised attack, did God harden his heart so that he would be defeated in the ensuing in war, thereby accomplishing God’s objective. 

2. The worst way to settle any border dispute is war, of course, and there have been many wars fought over this matter, including the battle fought between England and Argentina over the Falkland Islands in the 1980s. To the advocates of open border and/or illegal immigration, building a wall appears to be the final straw—I wonder how they felt about the Great Wall of China.

3. Repentance!  Don’t play with this thing.  In the spiritual world, if you insist on being an recalcitrant sinner, then God would remove His protection over you—which means the enemy, who prowls around like a roaring enemy looking for someone to devour (1 Pet. 5:8), will get a piece of you.  

Evening Reflection

Whether we like it or not, Donald Trump will be our next president—and the whole world knows about his many flaws.  So, why don’t we start praying that our next president will experience a profound spiritual change.  If the wicked king Manasseh was not outside of God’s reach (2 Chron. 33:12-3), then, the President-elect is well within God’s range of encountering His grace.  We, as Bible believing Christians, should cease from taking our cues from the media and academia that clearly have a different vision for what constitutes justice, freedom, and free speech; instead, let’s start listening to God who commands us to pray for “kings all those in authority” (1 Tim. 2:2). 

September 14, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on March 16, 2017, is provided by Pastor Jason Sato who, along with his wife Jessica and three young children, serves in Japan as an AMI missionary.  Jason is a graduate of UC San Diego (BS) and Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Everything in Its Proper Place”

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (ESV)

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. [25] Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. [26] So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. [27] But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

We expect children and even adolescents to have misplaced priorities: they want to play, not eat; they want to jump off things, not stay safe; they care about being cool, not the future.  But we expect adults to be wiser.  I don’t know about you, but I’ve surprised (or disappointed) myself with my foolishness more times than I’d like to admit.

In preparation for marriage, I did not spend any time contemplating how I would love my parents as a married son.  I rarely considered how our marriage could be used to bless the church and unbelievers.  I did not really think about the sacrifices I need to make for wife Jess.  Instead, I spent a great deal of time and thought on things like a song list, a seating chart, and a vacation we would take following the wedding.  Of course, none of those things are bad in and of themselves, but the real battles of life are not between good and bad per se but between good and best.

Athletes know that you do not need to hate junk food, sleep, or hobbies as the spawn of Satan.  They simply need to put everything in its proper place: they need self-control; they need to prioritize their craft; they are focused on their prize.

Similarly, believers do not need to discipline their bodies because everything in this world is evil and God hates it when we enjoy His good gifts.  But we do so, knowing that everything has its proper place: we need self-control; we need to remain focused on our prize.

How can we evaluate how we are doing in this?  Our measure depends on what is our prize.  The athlete’s prize is victory.  Anything that helps this is more important.  Anything that hinders it is less important.  Our prize is the person and presence of Jesus Christ.  

Brothers and sisters, in light of our prize, are our careers in their proper place?  Are our standards of living in their proper place?  Are our romantic lives in their proper place?  Are our children in their proper place?  People of God, is Jesus in His proper place in your lives?

Prayer: Father, I spend much of my time worried and distracted with things that will not matter.  Give me grace to see the shining face of the Lord Jesus Christ, that I may know for whom I live and for whom all things are for.

Bible Reading for Today: John 20

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Kings 5:20, 25-27 (ESV): Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” …[25] He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant went nowhere.” [26] But he said to him, “Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants? [27] Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow. 

Question to Consider

  1. Is it always wrong for a prophet to receive a gift?
  2. Why were Gehazi’s actions so inappropriate?
  3. What was Gehazi’s punishment.

Notes

  1. No, Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 9 that one who labors in the Lord’s work should be paid.
  2. Gehazi rejected Elisha’s wisdom and discernment.  This was not a time to receive gifts or to be concerned with the things of this world, but Gehazi did not care. 
  3. Gehazi became a leper, someone unclean and therefore unable to enter into God’s presence.

Evening Reflection

Reflect on your day.  What did you worry most about?  What did you pray most about?  Thank God that He is concerned about your concerns.  Also, ask Him that more and more His concerns would become your concerns.

September 13, Wednesday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on December 27, 2016, is provided by Pastor Joshua Kim. Joshua, a graduate of Emory University, Columbia Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Talbot Theological Seminary (Th.M.), is the Lead Pastor of Upper Room Seattle church.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Something Better Than Burger King”

2 Peter 3.8-10

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

Like many Asian males, I grew up I taking taekwondo lessons. It was all part of my parent’s effort to get me to be more active and build up my confidence. My dad would pick me up from school, drive 30 minutes to my lesson, and then pick me up afterwards, which would end around 4:30PM. After a “hard day at the gym,” I would be so hungry that I would beg my dad to take me to Burger King, since dinner felt like a thousand years from then.  But my dad would always say, “Be patient Josh, mom’s got something better waiting for you at home.” 

I think about the ways my parents taught me patience and endurance. It really comes down to the idea of if I trusted my parents. But this trust comes in two different ways. Sometimes waiting to get home was better because my mom would cook something I loved to eat; other times, I would have preferred to eat Burger King. But my parents ultimately knew what was best for me, and I would learn to trust that. 

Here, in today’s passage, is the Bible saying that God can change time in such a way that one day is like a thousand years and vice versa? I’m sure He could, but that’s not necessarily what this passage is saying. What Peter is teaching the church here is that God’s concept of time is entirely different from how we perceive time. He is temporal, that is, beyond time. He does not experience the same kind of restrictions of temporality that we do, and thus, does not experience delay or hurry like we do. His timing is perfect; He is in full control.

It isn’t hard to see that we are surely in the end times. Much like the church in today’s passage, we experience the harsh realities of life; and in a world of brokenness that seems to break even more every minute, the church can’t help but cry out, “Come!” as it says in Revelation. But in what seems like delay, what we learn from today’s passage is that this “delay” is an expression of God’s patience… God’s mercy upon this world. The ultimate question comes down to this: Do you trust God? Do you trust that what He has in store for you is ultimately not only the best for you but the best for the world? 

Prayer: Dear Lord, I praise You for You are eternal and all-knowing! I praise You because Your perfect plan in Your perfect timing is what’s ultimately the best for me. Lord, help me to trust in You, especially during times of waiting. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: John  19

Lunch Break Study  

Read Isaiah 55:6-9: Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;
7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Questions to Consider

  1. In the passage, what is the implication for those who do not forsake his ways or his thoughts? What happens to those who forsake their ways?
  2. What is the picture of God’s character you get from this passage?
  3. How are you responding to this passage? What are some practical ways that the Holy Spirit is calling you to respond?

Notes

  1. The call of this passage is for the wicked to forsake his ways and the unrighteous his thoughts. The implication is that those who do not are wicked and unrighteous. It’s not just ignorance. But for those who forsake their ways, they receive the compassion and pardon of God. 
  2. Responses may vary, but generally, it’s a picture of a transcendent God who is beyond not only our wisdom but the wisdom of this world. It is a picture of a God who is not only wiser than man but is categorically separate and on a different level than us.
  3. Personal response. 

Evening Reflection

As you have spent the day reflecting on the perfect timing of God, what are some of the things that come to your mind? These may be areas where you are struggling in trusting God’s timing. Take some time to jot them down in a journal. As you write them down, surrender each of these things to the perfect wisdom and timing of God.

September 12, Tuesday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on September 29, 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 Thrive Church by following them here: https://www.instagram.com/thrivechurchtaipei/

Devotional Thoughts for This Morning

“Barabbas and the Rest of Us”

John 18:39-40

But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

All that we know about Barabbas was that “Barabbas was a robber.”  Scripture has nothing positive to say about this man. It is safe to say that Barabbas was considered the scum of society at that time—a notorious prisoner (Matt 27:16), most likely destined to see the inside of a jail cell for the rest of his days. 

But one day, the crowd began to chant his name: “Barabbas! Barabbas!” Hearing the commotion, Barabbas must have thought the worst—that his execution day had come sooner than he anticipated. But as the soldiers who dragged him out began to unshackle his limbs, it dawned on Barabbas: he was being freed. Impossible! There was no hope of freedom left for him!  How was this happening? 

As he moved about freely for the first time in ages, perhaps he caught a glimpse of the other prisoner, the man named Jesus. I wonder if Barabbas knew at that moment that he had been the first of many for whom Jesus would die. 

The Bible doesn’t tell us much about Barabbas, but we know that Jesus took his place. We know that because of Jesus, this undeserved sinner was given life again. We also know his name means “son of the father” (bar = son of; abba = father). 

In a profound way, Barabbas represents all of us who believe in Jesus. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. And now we have become sons/daughters of the Father. Spend some time today thanking Jesus for taking our place!

Prayer: Lord, we thank You that you suffered and died for us while we were still sinners, unaware of Your great love for us. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 18

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 5:6-8: For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Questions to Consider

  1. How did God show His love for us?
  2. What is unusual/different about the timing of God’s love?

Notes

  1. God showed (demonstrated) His love for us when Jesus died for us, while we were still sinners. In other words, Jesus’ death on the cross is God’s ultimate act of love for us.
  2. For most, love doesn’t exist (or last very long) unless it is a two-way street. Typically, love is the last stage in the maturation of a relationship. First we make acquaintances, then a few of those become friends, and from there even fewer eventually make it into our inner circle—those whom we call “loved ones.” But God starts the relationship with love! Before we became “friends” of God, and even before we made our acquaintance with Him, He loved us and died for us. What does it look like for you to display this kind of love towards others?

Evening Reflection

The Hebrew word for “compassion” shares the same root as the word “womb.” The idea is that a pregnant woman already loves her baby. Even if she hasn’t seen, heard, or held the baby yet, she would give her life for it. This love of a mother over the baby in her womb is a dim reflection of God’s love over us. Read this verse and spend some time reflecting on God’s great love over us:

Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.

(Isaiah 49:15-16)

September 11, Monday

Today’s AMI Devotional QT, first posted on September 9, 2016, 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

“Wash Your Feet? No Way!” 

John 13:1-11 (ESV)

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 

We know historically that the washing of feet was the most menial chore reserved for the lowest slave in the house.  In fact, it was almost considered a breach of human dignity to force someone to wash the feet of guests; and because of that fact, Jewish servants were exempt from this awful duty.  In a city like Jerusalem, it would have been a common thing to dump your refuse on the streets; and so you could just imagine the grime and filth that would have found its way under people’s feet.  It was so bad that some of the rabbinic teaching advocated that only Gentile slaves be used to wash feet. 

It’s no wonder that Peter reacted the way that he did.  Due to the contrast between the exalted position of Jesus and the demeaning nature of foot washing, it makes complete sense that Peter reacted with the statement, “Lord you will never wash my feet.”  In all of the ancient literature, there is no other example of someone in such a high position of power taking such a low position of service.  It was unheard of and it was unfathomable to Peter that Jesus would take the place of a slave.  Peter obviously did not realize that the washing of his feet was a mere symbol of a far deeper spiritual cleansing to which Jesus alludes to when he says, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with me.” 

However, the washing of our sin goes beyond our personal relationship with Jesus— it impacts our relationships with other believers.   If you have no part with Jesus, then neither can you be a part of the authentic Christian community.  A person who has no experience of having their sins washed by the love of God can never fully take part in the depth of relationship that is available for those who have received the forgiveness of their sins.    

The thing that keeps us separate from one another, the thing that ensures that there is always a distance between two people is the barrier of sin and the shame that it causes.  We see it from the very beginning of human relationships where Adam and Eve see their own nakedness, and then they go about covering themselves so that they no longer have to be transparent before each other.  This is the perfect picture of the human dilemma: we want to be known and accepted for who we are, but deep inside we know that who we are is not acceptable.  So we hide behind our masks, our facades, and we try to project our areas of strength and hide our weaknesses.  We cover ourselves with our degrees, our success, our social status, and our wealth; but all the while, we struggle with the growing sense of loneliness.   In washing us through His blood, Christ makes us acceptable before God; and if we are acceptable to God, then surely we are acceptable to one another.  In this way, Jesus not only provides a way to the Father, He is also the means by which we can fellowship with one another.  

Prayer: Lord, gives us understanding of Your humility, and how You came not to be served but to serve.  We pray that Your example of love will be the foundation of our churches and lead to genuine fellowship among brothers and sister who bear Your Name.  As You have washed our sins with Your love, teach us how to love one another in a manner that covers a multitude of sin.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  John 17

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Corinthians 6: 5-11 (ESV): I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, 6 but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? 7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers! 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 

Questions to Consider

  1. What is principally wrong in taking another Christian to court?
  2. What is the true damage that is done when Christians air their disputes publicly?
  3. How does Paul address the state of the believers in Corinth?  

Notes

  1. I don’t believe that Paul’s intent was to completely negate lawsuits between Christians, but the bigger issue was the utter lack of Christian wisdom in the Corinthian church, and their failure to understand their true purpose in God.  Sometimes this verse has been used to hide crimes within the church, and that’s should never be the case.  However, the civil disputes that inevitably rise among us should be handled with love and mercy.  
  2. When Christians are unable to peaceably resolve their disagreements, our witness to unbelievers become far less credible.  This is Paul’s great concern with the Corinthians, that their lifestyles and treatment of one another was tarnishing the reputation of Christ and the church.   
  3. Although Paul reminds the Corinthians of their sinful history, his emphasis is on the fact that they are no longer these things.  They have been washed and sanctified by Christ and the Holy Spirit, and therefore they ought to live out this new life and stop acting like their former selves.  

Evening Reflection

Have you sensed Christ’s love for you today?  What does it mean for Jesus to serve you and minister to you?  Spend some time in prayer, reflecting on the ways God has demonstrated His love for you.  Take time to listen for His voice.  

September 10, Sunday

REPOSTToday’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on October 2, 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 Thrive Church by following them here: https://www.instagram.com/thrivechurchtaipei/

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Would You Die for Lego Characters?”

John 19:17-18

So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.

As a child, I loved LEGO toys. I had chests full of legos, and the shelves and windowsills of my room were always decorated with my latest lego creations. But legos hold an even more precious place in my heart because, believe it or not, it was through legos that I had my first revelation about the cross of Jesus Christ. 

I figured that Jesus coming to die for me, one of His created beings, was as ridiculous as me giving up my life to save one of my lego characters from being destroyed. As I played out various scenarios in my imaginative mind, it was obvious to me that I would never do such a silly thing. For example, if I had dropped a lego man in the middle of a busy intersection, and I could see that a huge truck was going to smash the little lego man… would I dive after it and sacrifice my life for the sake of rescuing that lego man? Of course NOT. After all, I can just create a new lego man. To die for a piece of worthless plastic—there’s no point to that! Then I began to stand in awe of how preposterous, how mind-boggling, how incredible is God’s love for us that He would die for us—His lego pieces, that is, His creation. In that moment I felt so small, but also very loved.

That was my first memory of being in awe at the cross of Christ. But now I know—God’s love is even more preposterous, and more incredible than even that. And the more I meditate on it, the more I realize how deep, how wide, and how unfathomable God’s love for us actually is!

Today, let us meditate on the death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; ask God for a deeper understanding of his unfathomable love for us.

Prayer: Lord give us the grace to comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge. Thank you for demonstrating that love for us on the cross.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 16

September 9, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on July 30, 2016, is provided by Pastor Yohan Lee.  He is a friend of AMI who in the past has served as a staff at several AMI churches.  He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Cairn University (MA).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Have You Tried It Yourself?”

John 4:39-42

Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word.42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

When I was in my 20s, I laughed at men who told me they practiced yoga.  Though I knew yoga was a great way to relieve stress— limber one’s body and strengthen the core—I couldn’t get over how feminized the practice had become.  You go to any yoga class and the ratio of guys to girls is something like 8:1. Plus, everyone wears these tight clothes, and all the instructors seem either too crunchy or too spacey. It just wasn’t for me, so I mocked it.  Then I hit my 30s and noticed how tight my muscles had become—meaning, I started pulling muscles when I over exerted myself.  Long story short, I tried yoga, and I really felt a difference.  Now before you start laughing at me, I am not very consistent and still a beginner–and I don’t own tights!  But I like it and would probably benefit from making yoga a part of my weekly routine.  

Here’s the point: some things (like yoga) not only need to be experienced before they can be truly appreciated and understood, but until they are experienced from within, they will look silly and remain misunderstood.  This is the truth the Samaritans of Sychar found out about Christ.  Sure, at first they had the woman’s testimony, but when they themselves came to Him, invited Him into their homes to listen to Him, they truly experienced and believed in Him; and after that, their old ways of worship seemed silly and obsolete.  

Oftentimes, people struggle with Christianity because they have not earnestly sought God out nor experienced Him.  Such people will ask: “How is it possible for a prayer meeting or a retreat to be more fun than going to a party, watching a movie, or having a great dinner? Why would I spend my vacation time doing mission’s work in Romania, when I could be going to Hawaii?  How could giving my money away be more rewarding that buying that really big TV?  Why would I move to a foreign country to share about Jesus, when I could stay here and make a good living and have a good life?”  

Maybe it’s because you haven’t experienced for yourself what living the Christian life is like.  You haven’t felt the overwhelming presence of the Holy Spirit as you engage in worship; you haven’t invested in a person and watched him turn his life around, nor have you fasted and prayed for a person who would eventually break his addictions.  Perhaps you’ve never taken a leap of faith and uprooted your life, only to see God provide in subtle yet miraculous ways, or you’ve never obeyed that still small voice and felt God’s pleasure upon you.  You’ve never poured your energy out on a church plant and watch it grow to hundreds.  Maybe you’ve never praised with the angels in heaven, because you’ve never helped anyone come to faith in Christ.  

Look, I haven’t experienced all of those things either, but I’ve seen enough to keep me wanting more.  Believe me when I say this: Christianity needs to be experienced practically, not just theoretically.  If you have not truly experienced Christ, it is going to feel silly giving your life for it.  This morning, be truthful with yourself:  Have you truly tried to give yourself fully to Christ and His work, or are you still an outsider looking in?  

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to experience the life for which You have created me for.  Please let me taste and see that You are good.  Give me faith and resolution to follow after You with all my heart and really live this Christian life.  Thank you for Jesus.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  John 14-15

September 8, Friday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Andrew Kim, was originally posted on December 23, 2016.  Andrew is presently pastoring Alive Church in Montreal.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“True Freedom” 

2 Peter 2:19

They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.

What is true freedom? Freedom is often associated with the absence of rules and restrictions. Our culture has defined it as being given free rein to do whatever our hearts desire. But is freedom about having no constraints at all? Are rules and boundaries in opposition to freedom? I would say no. As Tim Keller puts it, “A fish, because it absorbs oxygen from water rather than air, is only free if it is restricted and limited to water. If we put it out on the grass, its freedom to move and even live is not enhanced, but destroyed. The fish dies if we do not honor the reality of its nature.” In other words, freedom is not the total absence of limits but rather finding the right ones that allow us to flourish and thrive as people. 

It seems that the false teachers had been luring away believers by promising them freedom—the freedom to let their lustful passions run wild as they pleased. They argued that the gospel had brought them freedom and it was at their discretion to use as they pleased. And in one sense, the false teachers were correct. Freedom is at the heart of the gospel. However, it is not the freedom to do whatever we want. It’s being freed from the power of sin and death and having to fulfill the law on our own. In other words, we are freed from sin to be slaves to Christ—not so that we can do whatever we want.  

Oftentimes, many of us find the rules of Scripture to be stifling and burdensome. But I want to remind you that they were placed in our lives for our good. God is our Creator and knows us inside out. He understands what we need and the desires of our hearts. And the boundaries prescribed to us are not to suppress us but for us to flourish and live lives of true freedom and joy. For this reason, take delight in His word. It is for our ultimate good! 

Prayer: Father, help me to delight in Your word and commands. At times my heart feels burdened by it. However, help me to feel a sense of freedom and joy in following Your commands and give me the strength to do so! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 13

Lunch Break Study 

Read Psalm 119:97-104: Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98  Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. 100  I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. 101 I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. 102  I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me. 103  How sweet are your words to my taste,sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104  Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

Questions to consider 

  1. Why does the psalmist delight in the words of God? 
  2. What steps can you take to cultivate this type of posture towards God’s commands? 

Notes 

  1. He finds true understanding and wisdom in the words of God, more so than his enemies who seem to be looking elsewhere. This implies that by following God’s word, it is leading him to a life of goodness, away from evil and every false way. It has not only given him more wisdom but has tangibly affected his life in a real practical way. 
  2. Personal 

Evening Reflection 

We live in a culture where we are constantly bombarded by the media. Our minds are constantly being filled with various messages and ideas. It has become increasingly more difficult to slow down and meditate on the word of God. Let us make sure that we create time and space in our days to quiet our worlds and meditate on God’s word. Take some time tonight to do so.

September 7, Thursday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on December 29, 2016, is provided by Pastor Joshua Kim. Joshua, a graduate of Emory University, Columbia Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Talbot Theological Seminary (Th.M.), is the Lead Pastor of Upper Room Seattle church.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Contend for the Faith”

Jude 1-4

Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: 2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. 3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

I recently took a class with a professor who was a staff sergeant in the Vietnam War. At the youthful age of 20, he quickly found himself in the swamps of Vietnam with the burden of leading a group of men into war. As he recounted many of the horrific things he had experienced in the war, he taught us the importance of training disciples in the church. He believed that the term “disciple” isn’t just reserved for those who are in positions of leadership or are well equipped, but rather, anyone who has come to Jesus for salvation and surrendered their lives to His Lordship. In other words, all Christians are disciples. And he challenged a classroom of around thirty future leaders and pastors of churches to take this calling seriously. As he quickly learned in Vietnam, a squad is only as strong as its weakest member. 

Despite the brevity of Jude’s letter, you’ll notice that Jude wastes no time getting to the heart of the matter. Even though he is “very eager” to write to them about their salvation, he sees that there is another urgent matter at hand. He addresses the rise of false teachers (much like in 2 Peter) within the church who are “perverting” the message of God’s grace.

If something like this were to happen in your church, it would be very natural for us to quickly rely on the church leadership to deal with the situation. But take a look at who is being addressed: “those who are called.” In other words, this letter is written to all those within the church, since this calling applies to everyone who believes in Jesus. 

The call to “contend for the faith” is given to all saints, not just the leaders or pastors. You, dear brother and sister, are called to defend the faith and fight for the purity of the church. You are called to fight for the unity of the church, to not let falsehoods or sin remain within the church. You are called.

Members of a church are not spectators—we are participants. We are not just consumers—we are workers and builders. Every member of the body is called to get into the grit of life so that as a whole body, we may be pure before the Lord. 

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank You for engrafting me into the family of God through Your blood. I realize that this invitation is not just an invitation to consume or observe, but to get involved and build up. Forgive me for the ways I’ve stood by passively. Help me to be one who speaks and acts in truth for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: John 12

Lunch Break Study  

Read 1 Peter 3:13-7: “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Questions to Consider

  1. What is Peter exhorting the church to do?
  2. What is the implication of this passage? Why should we be ready to “make a defense to anyone who asks us for a reason for our hope”?
  3. In what ways are you pushing aside the challenges of people who are questioning your faith? In what ways are you avoiding making a defense? Remember, the sin of omission is just as sinful as the sin of commission. How is God challenging you to respond?

Notes

  1. Peter is calling the church to do good despite what the physical/worldly consequences may be. Peter calls the church to always be ready, in speech, in manner, in action, and in thought. It is a call for the church to be above reproach, and in times of defending the faith, no one can bring any opposition against them.
  2. The implication here is that the church will face opposition even if they are doing good. Even when the church acts in good conscience, there will be those who bring charges against them. There will be a time of questioning. And it is the duty of the church to be ready to honor Christ.
  3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

How have you thought differently about your part in the church today? Has anything changed about your commitment to the church body? How might you live/act differently starting tomorrow? Take a few moments to journal your thoughts and commit them to the Lord in prayer.

September 6, Wednesday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Andrew Kim, was originally posted on December 20, 2016.  Andrew is presently pastoring Alive Church in Montreal.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning 

“The Road to Character”

2 Peter 1:5-8

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue,and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualitiesare yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

David Brooks, a New York Times op-ed columnist makes an interesting observation in his book, The Road to Character. He writes that Americans have become obsessed with creating an impressive resume. We want to graduate from the best colleges, earn as many rewards as possible in our respective fields, and gain enough experience to merit the respect of those we’re seeking approval from. And this isn’t all that surprising because we live in a meritocratic society. Our resumes prove our worth to those who hire us and give us the jobs we desperately want— without it, it would be impossible to fulfill many of our dreams. For this reason, we spend all of our energy and time into creating the perfect resume—even if it means that we sacrifice relationships and other important areas of our lives. In other words, resumes have become our number one priority. 

However, 2 Peter 1:5-8 call us to pour our efforts into an entirely different endeavor. Yesterday we learned that God has provided all that we need for life and godliness. In light of this, the apostle Peter calls us to respond, not by working towards a better resume, but to make every effort in becoming more like Christ; to build upon the foundation of faith and add virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. This passage suggests that what is of utmost importance is not our resume but our character; not where we graduated from but how well we love. 

I believe that this is a much-needed reminder for the church. In a busy world that demands our very best, it’s so easy to neglect the content of our character. As a result, many of us have enjoyed great success in our careers at the expense of our character. We’ve grown our resumes but our capacity to love and remain steadfast have dwindled or remained stagnant. This isn’t to say that striving for well-paying jobs is bad. We should all strive for excellence and be ambitious. But it should never take priority over the growth of our character. Let us take some time today and repent before God and ask Him to make you more like Him!

Prayer: Father, I confess that at times I make my life about me and what I want. I spend so much of my time thinking about my career and my ambitions. Help me to desire the things of You, that my time and energy would go into becoming more like You. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: John 11 

Lunch Break Study 

Read Matthew 6:25-33: Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? [26] Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? [27] And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? [28] And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, [29] yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. [30] But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? [31] Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ [32] For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. [33] But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Questions to consider 

  1. What is Jesus commanding us to do? 
  2. What is the promise that Jesus gives to us in verse 33? 
  3. What are you always anxious about? 

Notes 

  1. Jesus calls us to not be anxious about our lives and trust in God, to not worry about not having enough. He points to how God provides even for the sparrows and the lilies. If He cares for lesser creatures, how much more will He give us all that we need as His sons and daughters.  
  2. If we seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness, everything that we need will be added to us. In other words, if we make God’s concerns our first priority, we don’t have to worry about anything else. God will provide! 
  3. Personal. 

Evening Reflection 

Take some time tonight to reflect on your character. Where are you lacking? Do you need to learn how to love better? To be more generous and think about others? As the busyness of the day winds down, take time to pray and ask God to reveal the content of your character, and invite Him to begin the process of transformation!