REPOSTToday’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on July 16, 2016, is provided by Mei Lan Thallman—now a friend of AMI—who had served at Grace Covenant Church UC (now Philadelphia) for a long time.   

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“A God Who Constantly Works In and Through Us”

1 Corinthians 3:5-11  

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul?  Only servants through whom you came to believe – as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.  So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.  The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.  For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.  By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it.  But each one should be careful how he builds.  For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

This spring, I had the blessing to go back to Taipei, Taiwan and visit the House of Praise—the first church we loved and served for seven years.  I was deeply moved during worship, as I watched many of the old faces who were stepping up in their places to serve God as elders, deacons, worship leaders, greeters, etc.  I remembered how hard it was to leave them nine years ago, when we felt God leading us elsewhere.

But now I rejoice over how much the church family has grown as a whole, and how well they are doing under the care of the current pastor and his family.  I was overwhelmed with gratitude for God’s great faithfulness–truly God was and is the ultimate and rightful Shepherd of HOP.  Though we were blessed and privileged to be entrusted by God to care for HOP, I was also glad that we trusted and obeyed God when it was His time for us to move on.  If we didn’t, things would look very different for all of us.

The following week, I shared a meal with a family who joyfully informed me that the husband has come to faith in Christ Jesus after 15 years of witnessing and praying for him; now they are planning to be baptized as a family. Their first exposure to Christianity was attending their sister’s baptism at HOP fifteen years ago.  But during the course of 15 years, God was using the church to lead them one by one to Himself; first, the wife, WiWi, through her sister Kathy; then the kids, Stanely and Chi Chi; and lastly the husband, Grant.

We serve a great God who is constantly at work to draw the world unto Himself through his bride, the church.  We, the church, are the living and thriving hands and feet of Christ.  God not only wants to save and sanctify us, but He longs to enthrone and reign as the cornerstone of our heart and lives.  Then, and only then, can He use us freely to build the same foundation into other people’s hearts and lives.  Let us not grow weary to keep pursuing Jesus wholeheartedly, to steadfastly and faithfully keep planting seeds, and watering into the lives of people that God brings into our path.

Prayer:  Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for being the author and perfector of our faith.  Thank You that You desire not only to save us but to entrust us with the responsibility of being a thriving and active member of your church family.   Please forgive us of our tendencies to be a spectator, consumer, critic and competitor.  Fill us with more of You and Your heart for the world.  Teach us to freely, unconditionally, and boldly give away the love and grace that You so lavishly bestow upon us always. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 6-7

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Jabez Yeo who is now a friend of AMI, was first posted on November 31, 2016.  He is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (B.S.) and Columbia International University where he studied Islam (M.A.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Don’t be a Proud Pharaoh”

Colossians 3:12-4

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

“There is nothing more taxing than having to make a choice between the ‘lesser of two evils’—this is as perplexing today as it was back in the days of the early church when the choice was between Nestorius and Cyril.” 

For the early church, much debate continued regarding the nature and person of Jesus Christ. During the mid-fifth century A.D., the bishop Nestorius argued that prosopon (person) and physis (nature) go hand in hand for both humanity and divinity. Thus, Nestorius believed that if Jesus had a human nature and a divine nature, “His incarnation had to be a mutual dwelling of two people – the eternal Son of God and the mortal Jesus.”  To that mutual dwelling, Nestorius assigned the name Christ and considered it to be a combination of two separate persons.  

Unfortunately, Nestorius was sincerely wrong, and the bishop Cyril was quite eager to point that out.  Under the rubric of what was called “hypostatic union,” Cyril taught that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who took on Himself a human nature and existence, while remaining fully divine. According to Cyril, “If Jesus was truly the Word incarnate, then it must be theologically correct to attribute to him all the glory of deity, as well as to the Son of God who became human all the weakness and mortality of humanity.” Cyril’s favorite formula for expressing the incarnation was that “God the Logos did not come into a man, but he truly became man, while remaining God.”

Unfortunately, Cyril was also known for behaving like a “proud pharaoh.” He was involved in many disputes throughout his life, and some historians believe that Cyril was responsible for stoking tensions that led a “Christian” mob to murder the Hellenistic philosopher Hypatia. When Cyril was exiled by Emperor Theodosius II, he even engaged in bribery with the emperor’s confidantes and sent mobs to besiege Theodosius’ palace to shout abuse. Needless to say, Cyril did not have a reputation for being patient or loving. 

As we are all sinners, conflict is not only possible but inevitable. Nevertheless, how we deal with conflict indicates whether we are indeed putting on our godly nature or resorting to our sinful nature.  Perhaps, it is fair to say that God used Cyril despite of his shortcomings, not because of his greatness.  Let’s ask for God’s strength to put on Christ’s nature today.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know that there is nothing good in me. I know that without You, my selfishness and pride seep into every conflict that I face. Help me to put on Your nature and to have compassion, patience, humility and kindness. Help me to love others as You have loved me. In Your Name I pray, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 5

Lunch Break Study 

Read Colossians 2:9a: “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.”

Colossians 1:19: “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him.”

John 4:6: “Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey.”

Mark 11:12: “The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.”

Questions to Consider

1. Given these limited verses, justify Jesus’ complete divinity as well as His complete humanity.  

2. Which of the following two statements is correct? Jesus is 50 percent human and divine, respectively, in one person, or, Jesus is 100 percent human and divine in one person?

3. In light of this, can we have confidence in what Hebrews 4:15 declare:“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. ¹⁶ Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Notes

1. The Colossian passages clearly state that the fullness of Deity dwells in Jesus Christ.  Fullness is not a half-measure but complete and exact as its counterpart.  As for Christ’s humanity, he became tired after a long day’s walk and became hungry when not eating, just like us.

2. Jesus is 100 percent human and divine, respectively, in one person.

3. We can absolutely have confidence in what is promised in Hebrews 4:15 because Jesus experientially knows what we are going through (without sinning).  In truth, Jesus didn’t need to go through all this to empathize with us; but He did so that it will help us to have more confidence in Christ.   

Evening Reflection

This evening, as you are about to turn in for the night, would you say a short prayer of gratitude to the Lord for having come in the flesh to do for us something no one except He could have done, that is, taking care of our sin problem, once and for all, and continuing to intercede on our behalf?  

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One” (1 Jn. 2:1).

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Andrew Kim, was originally posted on December 22, 2016.  Andrew is presently pastoring Alive Church in Montreal.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Love & Grace, In Light of His Wrath”

2 Peter 2:4-10 

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; [5] if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; [6] if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; [7] and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked [8] (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); [9] then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, [10] and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority.

One of my favorite quotes (used by almost every pastor as a sermon illustration) is from C.S. Lewis’ novel The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In response to the character Susan’s question about the safety of meeting the mysterious Aslan the Lion, Mr. Beaver replies, “Who said anything about being safe? Course He isn’t safe. But He’s good. He’s the king.” I like this quote because I find Mr. Beaver’s response to be an apt description of God. He’s good but He isn’t safe. 

I wonder how many of us hold both descriptors in tension when it comes to our view of God. It seems that many have opted for a God who is good but also safe, maybe even domesticated—and understandably so. It’s easy to focus on His love and grace at the expense of His less popular attributes such as His wrath and judgment. But upon surveying the biblical narrative, one cannot walk away without a profound realization that God isn’t safe. 

In our passage for today, we see the apostle Peter bringing these two descriptors of God into focus. As false teachers have infiltrated the church, Peter warns that those who are led astray by false teaching will indeed be judged. The apostle makes his point by giving them a brief survey of Scripture and highlighting moments in biblical history where the judgment and wrath of God were powerfully displayed. In essence, he is making the point that God does not only know how to save, but He is also the righteous judge. To put it simply, God will not overlook sin and immorality. There will surely be judgment in the last days, and for this reason, Peter exhorts the church not to deviate from the way of Christ. 

How should we respond to this passage? I want to offer two ways: First, we must take our sins seriously because God deems it a serious matter. We shouldn’t grow lax or apathetic in our fight against sin. Instead, we must make every effort to pursue holiness. Second, it should create in us a sense of urgency to share the gospel with those who don’t know Christ. The final judgment is a reality that is sure to come. In the limited time that we have, we should do what we can in sharing the good news of the gospel with those whom we love. I want to encourage you to take some time today to pray for those who have not accepted Christ. It is imperative that we do so. 

Prayer: Father, I pray for those who do not know You. I ask that You would open up their hearts to the good news of Your gospel. Give me opportunities to share about You and the courage to do so. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: John 4

Lunch Break Study 

Read Romans 1:18-23: The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. [19] For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. [20] For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. [21] For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. [22] Claiming to be wise, they became fools, [23] and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Questions to consider 

1. What is the essence of sin according to this passage? 
2. Can a person who never had access to the Bible claim total ignorance of God’s laws? 
3. How would you describe your posture toward sin? 

Notes 

1. Paul writes in verse 22 that the essence of sin is to exchange the glory of the immortal God for images resembling creation—that is, choosing to worship the creation rather than the Creator.  Sin at its fundamental level is idolatry. 
2. No, since by way of God’s general revelation (i.e., that which is knowable about God apart from Scripture but through creation and God’s law written on human hearts [Rom. 2:14-5]), men have access to adequate knowledge of God’s divine nature and laws.
3. Personal.

Evening Reflection 

As you wind down and reflect on your day, did you have a sense of urgency for those who don’t know Christ? Were you able to see and act on different opportunities to share the gospel as you went about your day? Take some time to pray for unbelievers you regularly interact with; ask God for more opportunities tomorrow to share and demonstrate the love of Christ. 

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on February 10, 2016, is provided by Joanna Tzen, who was a long-standing member of Grace Covenant Church in Philadelphia. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Savior of the World that the People Didn’t Want”
John 6:26-35
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”30 So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.””34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.

You might not guess that I am a Facebook “stalker,” since I almost never post, but I do pop up here and there liking photos. My favorite posts are from my friends about their babies. Usually if the children are toddlers, the funniest are not when they are cute and well-behaved, but when there’s some sort of meltdown or mischievous activity. These meltdowns are often brought on by the wise, logical, and compassionate actions of their parents (like removing dangerous objects or putting them down for a nap).
The passage above picks up after Jesus crossed the lake of Galilee after a full day of teaching—the sheep came for the Good Shepherd again. However, Jesus wanted the crowd to know that He wasn’t an earthly leader who had come to solve all of their problems or provide material things, but that He was so much more. First, he begins by telling them that they need to work for bread that will not spoil. The people ask about the work in v.28, and Jesus says it is to believe. They then take Jesus’ words literally and ask for this bread. When Jesus begins to tell them that He is the bread of life, they reject Him. It is as if the crowd wants to do more than believe, be it through a set of rituals or reliance on their lineage. They also see Him through earthly eyes as Joseph’s son (v.42). They reject Jesus’ offer that the work is already done for those who believe in Him.
It is clear that Jesus was not the savior that the people wanted. They wanted a worldly hero to save them from political oppression at the time and provide earthly comforts. In this day and age, particularly during the Presidential election cycle, even we as believers are not that different.
Are we only looking to Jesus for solution to our worldly concerns? What if He is saying, in His compassion, that He does see these concerns, but He is asking us to look beyond the temporal—that He provides, more importantly, what is eternal? He cares so much more about who we are becoming as Christ-followers over our temporal comfort. I am not trying to dismiss any of the very real hurt and pain we will experience in this world, but asking us to allow the Good Shepherd and Heavenly Father to remind us of what will endure over what will fade away. 
May we ask the Lord to replace our earthly eyes with a heavenly perspective, so we will not return to the former ways of thinking (Gal 4:9), such as reliance on self. Let us ask the Lord to mature and strengthen us in our faith, so that we will not be like children tossed in waves of circumstance and lies of the Enemy (Eph. 4:14).
Prayer: Lord, are there times when I see Jesus as the crowd did and care more about my comfort than following the Savior? May you open my eyes to situations where You are asking me to follow You even though it may be difficult. Help me to depend on You and trust You. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: John 3

Lunch Break Study 

Read John 10:11-3:“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.”
1 Peter 5:2-4: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
Questions to Consider

1. What makes a hired hand different than a shepherd?
2. Read 1 Peter 5:1-4. What does Peter instruct of those who are shepherds in the church?
3. How can we learn from the Good Shepherd?

Notes

1. A shepherd lays down his life for the sheep, while a hired hand abandons the sheep to save his own life.
2. Shepherds are instructed to watch over their flock, eagerly serve, and be examples to the flock. They are not to have a begrudging heart in serving, pursue dishonest gain, or lord their authority over others.
3. We can only shepherd well when we understand how the Good Shepherd laid down His life for us to give us life. Then we can lay down our lives for others.

Evening Reflection

Ask yourself these questions and pray: Were there situations today where I behaved more like Philip in calculating the cost before trusting the Lord? Did I have trouble following the Good Shepherd today because I was afraid? If so, Lord, please forgive me and help me to see how You are trustworthy. As tomorrow is a new day filled with new mercies (Lam. 3:22-23), I pray your Holy Spirit will enable me to better remember Your character and promises.

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on February 10, 2016.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Why Personal Devotions Are So Important”
John 6:63
The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

Proverbs 4:23, 27:19
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. . .. As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man. 

“After hearing your testimony about family turmoil,” someone says, “mine is just like yours”; but, after hearing that person’s story, you realize that what appear to be similar stories on the surface, they are actually quite different—while you spoke of unilateral forgiveness, the other person was talking about a conditional forgiveness:  They are not the same.
The Christian narrative is one given to us in God’s Word, interpreted by the Christian community through the Spirit. It is the story that tells us of God’s creation of all things, of the human fall, of how God sent Jesus Christ to redeem humankind from wickedness and suffering.  It tells how the Holy Spirit teaches us to live and how Christ will one day come back to enact true justice and transform the universe into his all-good kingdom. This is our story, and we should not be afraid to live by it. 
But the world tells its own stories, like that sexuality is not God-made and God-directed, that we can only look to ourselves to make the world better, that all religions lead to the same God.  We must guard our heart against these narratives and influences that subvert our story and cause us to live against Christ. What we let influence our heart—whether through media, friends, literature, etc.—will affect who we become and how we live. 
Theologian Wayne Grudem, in speaking of Proverbs 4:23, says that when he was on the translation committee for the ESV Bible, he stopped his personal time of reading his Bible and praying, thinking he was already reading the Scriptures enough in his scholarly work. After a few days of sensing something wrong, he began to reflect on the effects of this neglect of devotion to God: “Results of missing personal Bible-reading and prayer time: pride, talking about myself a lot, often inwardly hoping people will praise me, lack of love for friends, irritability, relationships with friends just stall or put on hold, general inward feeling of unease, unsettledness, hard to concentrate on Scripture and prayer, self-reliance, no peace.” 
Once we let the stories of this world influence our hearts, they will change who we are and our faithfulness in living according to Christ’s story. Deny the ungodly narratives of the world any power in your life! Live according to the Christian story! Live for the Lord Jesus Christ! 
Prayer: Father, I glorify You, for there is none greater in this entire universe.  I thank You for giving us the story of redemption in which we are ultimately triumphant.  While darkness, at times, still inundates my life, the hope in my final redemption in heaven brings me joy unspeakable.  Thank You.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.   
Bible Reading for Today:  John 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Genesis 3:1-7: Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Question to Consider
1. We are familiar with the story of what the first couple was told as a condition to living in peace and joy in the garden.  The adversary, who opposes God, had a plan to undo all that.  What was his strategy that worked to a tee? 
2. In what sense does this chain of events demonstrate the power of believing in the wrong narrative?
3. What are some stories that we are being told by those who wield great influence in our society that have everything on their side except unvarnished truth and facts?  

Notes
1. The enemy, being mindful of the original narrative (“You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die”) induced the woman to distort it.   All the devil had to do was raise a doubt (“Did God really say?”) and Eve took it from there: she changed God’s narrative from “You must not” to “You may not.” That’s what led to the Fall.
2. What truly affects our view of the reality is what we believe and how passionately we believe it.  If you still believe in a flat earth, then you wouldn’t be sailing too far from the harbor.  If  you don’t believe in a loving and gracious God, then you would try to earn His acceptance by good works.  That, of course, is a ready-made recipe for never-ending disappointments and insecurity.
3. The factuality of evolution, the biological determinism of homosexuality, the global warming—you challenge any one of those reigning discourses of our secular society and you  may lose your job in the academia; you will certainly not be invited to cool parties or be considered very bright. 

Evening Reflection

Here are some truths that you should meditate on before going to bed tonight: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (Jn. 3:16); “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us” (1 Jn. 3:16^a).  You are loved by the God of this vast universe; He knows you by name, in Christ.  Yes, you have the right to feel elated and joyous, regardless of what you got on your last exam, or whether your boss likes your report or not.

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on February 22, 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).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Sovereignty of God”
Acts 4:23-28
On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one. 27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 

Let me make a stereotypical statement to start this morning:  “Women hate sci-fi, and only men—but not all men— like sci-fi movies.”  So in logic terms, the conditional statement, “If you like sci-fi, then you are a man” holds true; however, the converse does not: “If you are a man, then you like sci-fi.”  I bring this up because one of the more popular themes in sci-fi is time travel.  Now when Hollywood gets its hands on time travel, they generally go one of two ways:  Option 1:  Fate is set, and all your actions will inevitably lead you to the one destined path.  For example, in The Time Traveler’s Wife (do you see how I got the ladies back into this conversation by connecting sci-fi and romance movies?), despite her best efforts, Rachel McAdams cannot stop her husband from being shot in a freak hunting accident.  Option 2:  There is no fate—and people have the power to change their future (e.g., Back to the Future).  
When it comes to the sovereignty of God, unfortunately, I think too many people are stuck in one of the Hollywood models.  We either think our fate is set, and we are destined to fulfill God’s plan, whether we like it or not; or we react negatively to the idea that God controls anything, so we reject the notion of His sovereignty.  
First, I want to affirm that human beings have choices—and we will be held accountable for our choices and actions.  In the Bible, we are constantly told to believe, obey, or do right and resist evil—these commands imply that we have the power to choose, and that we are not mindless robots.  But second, I want us to see that God’s sovereignty was meant to be a great source of comfort for us.  After being released from prison, Peter and John were able to see that the worst event they had witnessed, the death of their Lord Jesus, was not something that was out of God’s control; in fact, God was using Christ’s betrayal for greater purposes—the redemption of creation.  
How do you see God in your difficult situations?  Do you think He is helpless or just as confused as you are?  Or do you believe that God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28).  Does God’s sovereignty bring you comfort, knowing that you are not out of His plan, grasp, or power?  I hope it does.  
Prayer: Oh Sovereign Lord, give me perspective to see that You are in control.  Give me peace in my heart, knowing that I can trust a good, fair, loving, and just God. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: John  1

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Peter 1:3-11: His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to[c] his own glory and excellence,[d] 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities[f] are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Questions to Consider
1.  As Peter discusses our calling, what are the things that God has done?
2.  What are the things that He commands us to do?
3.  When it comes to your growth in Christ (sanctification), what is the relationship between God’s working and your personal responsibility? 
Notes
1.  God has granted us all things pertaining to life and godliness and called us to the knowledge of Jesus (1:3).  He has given us a new nature, which frees us from corruption and our sinful desires (1:4).  All this is summed up as faith (1:5).  
2.  We are called to add to our faith virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love.  
3.  Growing in Christ is a joint venture between us and God.  God provides the power and faith for true change; however, we are responsible to keep His commands and to strive for godliness.  

Evening Reflection

Did you receive some bad news today?  Or has something been going on in your life or your loved ones?  If so, did you struggle to find comfort in God’s sovereign hands?  Did you choose to be obedient or to strive for godliness, knowing that God has given you the power to obey and follow after Him?  

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on July 9, 2016, is provided by Pastor Barry Kang, who heads Symphony Church in Boston.  Barry is a graduate of Stanford University (B.S.), Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and Gordon Conwell Seminary (D.Min.).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The Transformation of a Runaway Slave”
Colossians 4:7-9
Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, 9 and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.

Sometimes when we hear a sermon or read the Bible, the knowledge we gain is left theoretical or conceptual.  When Tychicus delivered this letter to the church in Colossae, the Colossians might reasonably have thought they’d have time to reflect upon these words and consider their implications.  However, they wouldn’t have this luxury.  They would be tested right away.
For along with Tychicus was a man they hadn’t expected to see: Onesimus,  a runaway slave from Philemon’s household—now returned, and a Christian with a recommendation from the Apostle Paul to boot!  They all knew Philemon of course.  He was a respected follower of Christ and a wealthy home-owner and host to a church that met in his house.  If they didn’t know Onesimus’s story, they would have heard soon enough. 
It is likely that Tychicus would have read the letter from Paul in their public gathering.  As they listened, their eyes would have shifted in Onesimus’s direction on more than one occasion. 
Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. (3:11-14). 
Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. (4:1) … and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you (4:8).
So how would they receive and welcome the runaway slave?  Praise God for an immediate opportunity to obey and give honor to our God!
The Word of God is not meant to be hypothetical or theoretical: For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
His word challenges us and transforms us.  The quicker we obey, the quicker the transformation takes root.  Is there a step (or steps) of obedience God has been asking you to take?  Let us be a people who obey and right away!
Prayer: Father, You delight not in our sacrifices but our obedience. We want to be a people who are transformed through Your word.  Help us not to keep Your word only in our minds, but give us Your grace to immediately live Your good and perfect will.  Thank You for the example of Jesus who obeyed that will even unto death. Thank You that His obedience meant our salvation.  As we think upon Jesus, may we also likewise put on Christ each day, this day.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Nahum 3

REPOSTToday’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on February 13, 2016.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Is Life Possible When Both Your Father and Son Have Committed Suicide?”
Romans 7:22-5
For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Theologian Jack Deere, who lost both his father and son to suicide, wrote, “Time does not heal shame. Shame will not go away by itself.  It might be hidden for a little while but sooner or later, it comes back. . . . It’s always there and it tells you this: ‘You know, if these people really knew what you were like, they wouldn’t even want you in this room.’ And because you’ve got this gaping hole you can’t share with anyone, you feel so lonely in the room and like you really need to keep this secret.” 
Philosopher Avishai Margalit describes guilt as that reaction when we view ourselves from the eyes of our inner conscience, making us pale, and shame as that emotion when we view ourselves from the eyes of the other, making us blush. In any case, the two serve as a devastating duo in our psyche: they can make us feel dirty, hypocritical, secretive, alone, burdened, despairing. They are the sorrowful children of our aspirations towards the highest moral ideals coupled with the wretchedness of our fallen, sinful selves. While other tortures may come from external forces, the torture of guilt and shame can be an especially painful assault as it comes from within.  I once heard a young man, who had actually overcome his sin of masturbating to pornography, confess, “I don’t know which is harder: stopping porn or dealing with the guilt that I’ve had since stopping.” 
It seems to me that some guilt and shame is actually good for a person, guiding him toward the right direction. They are a bit like the appearance of fats and sugars at the top of the food pyramid: a little bit can actually be beneficial for the body, but large quantities are destructive, a lifestyle God does not want us to live. I am reminded of Peter who showed a distinct weakness for cowardice, vehemently betraying Jesus at his last hour.  What shame and guilt he must have experienced! Yet our merciful Lord, after His resurrection, renews His friendship with Peter and entrusts to him again the ministry of apostleship that Peter was always meant for (John 21). 
God always loves. God always forgives. Let us never waver from the path of repentance. Let us understand that no matter the secrets people find out about us, no matter the pangs of guilt that haunt us (whether we are alone in bed or worshipping on Sunday), God is with us and He will forgive and He will one day give us the perfect life we so desire, free from failure, guilt, shame, and sorrow. Let us find freedom by confessing our sins and holding firm in our minds to the promises of God for us. That’s why He is the God of grace: He loves us no matter our secret shames and self-hating guilt. We will endure and overcome through Christ. God is with us!
Prayer: Great is they faithfulness, O God, to me despite who I really am from within.  Up on that cross, Christ not only paid for the penalty of my sin but also the guilt and shame that came with it.  Thank You for imputing your Son’s righteousness on me so that I am no longer condemned (Rom. 12:1). Amen.
Bible Reading for Today:  Nahum 1-2

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on December 6, 2016, 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

“I Am a Victim!”
Philippians 1:12-13
I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 

 In the movie Shawshank Redemption, the narrator describes the main character, Andy Dufresne, like this: “He strolled, like a man in a park without a care or a worry in the world, like he had on an invisible coat that would shield him from this place.”  Andy was convicted of a crime that he did not commit and sentenced to life in prison.  He was a victim of injustice, and yet, while stuck in prison, he walked around without a care or worry—it was as if he were a free man.
Perhaps, that’s one of the best ways we could describe the apostle Paul.  He had every reason to feel like a victim to his circumstances.  When Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians, he was imprisoned for doing what he was supposed to be doing—serving the Lord and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Though he hadn’t done anything wrong nor committed any crime, he was being unjustly punished.  And yet through all of it, as a man in chains, instead of feeling like a victim of his circumstances, Paul seemed to be like a free man.  In this passage, Paul was certain that everything that has happened to him—all of the injustices—had a purpose to advance the gospel.  Paul was in prison for Jesus, and because of that, he was free.
In our culture, it’s becoming easier and easier for us to have a victim mentality.  When life doesn’t go our way, when we experience criticism, rejection, loss, or bad traffic, we can tend to feel like, “Woe is me!”  As followers of Christ, we, more than any others in this world, should be able to walk without a care or worry in the world.  When we face the trials, struggles, and injustices, we shouldn’t see ourselves as victims of our circumstances.  Instead, we should strive for this heart that Paul had:  He understood that in all of his difficult situations, Jesus was with him, and that Jesus could use those circumstances for the advancement of the gospel.  No matter what trials or injustices we face, and no matter what direction life leads us, we can live like we are free, because Christ has set us free—and our lives are in His hands.
Prayer: Jesus, I entrust my life into Your hands.  Help me to understand that You reign over my life and that even in difficult times, You are there with me.  Set me free, Lord, and may You be glorified in my life.  Amen.
Bible Reading for Today:  Habakkuk 3

Lunch Bible Study

Read 1 Peter 1:6-9: In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Questions to Consider

1. How was the faith of Peter’s audience tested?
2. What is the result of genuine faith in Christ?
3. Peter encourages his readers to rejoice through their trials. How can we have this same heart of rejoicing as we face trials in our own lives?

Notes

1. The genuineness of their faith was tested through various trials.  Considering the time period when Peter addressed his audience, by “various trials,” Peter was likely referring to the persecution that they were facing as Christians.  Peter compares this testing of their faith to the purification of gold, because gold is purified by exposing it to fire as a way to burn off any impurities.  Likewise, the faith of Peter’s audience was purified as they persevered through various trials.  As they faced the “fire,” they were compelled to put their faith and trust in Jesus.
2. The result is that praise and glory and honor are given to the name of Jesus.  Christ is honored and glorified as our faith in Him is purified.  The more we trust in Jesus, the greater the glory He receives.
3. We can rejoice for the salvation of our souls, as we trust and love Jesus during our trials.

Evening Reflection

Think about your day today.  Were you a “victim” to your circumstances?  Or did you experience freedom as a child of God?  Take a moment and pray so that in all circumstances, your heart can be free, and rejoice that Jesus has set you free. 

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on December 14, 2016, is provided by Phillip Chen who is associate pastor at Kairos Christian Church in San Diego. Phil is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Influential”
Philippians 3:17-21 (ESV)
Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

A motivational speaker by the name of Jim Rohn once said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Whether you agree with that statement or not, I think it’s safe to say that we are highly influenced by those whom we are around the most. A silly example of this is the way my laughter has evolved throughout the years.  I’ve had friends with very unique laughs, and for some reason, my laugh would begin to look or sound slightly like theirs, the more I hung out with them. I’m sure there are many more ways that we pick up on things and imitate those we are around a lot, especially those we trust and respect. 
Paul is making a plea to the Philippian believers to imitate him in his faith journey. He seems to make this plea often, for he also exhorts the Corinthian believers to follow his example as he follows the example of Christ (1 Cor. 11:1). This plea is a serious one when we consider what Paul says: that there are those who walk as enemies of the cross of Christ, seeking to influence these new believers, and they are not to associate with them.
Paul is not against having unbelieving friends. In fact, I think he would encourage us to have more unbelieving friends than we currently have. Rather, he speaks wisdom regarding those whom we surround ourselves with, particularly those who counsel and mentor us. During our impressionable years (particularly our late teens and twenties), we ought to make sure that we are surrounded by people who will remind us of our ultimate end—as citizens of heaven. 
But don’t we need to be relevant? Often, our desire is to be relevant to this culture so that we can change this culture for the Lord. There is validity in that, but I believe there are wise and unwise ways in approaching this matter. Imagine if you saw a friend sinking in a quicksand. Would your first inclination be to jump in with your friend to be relevant to them? No, you would first find solid ground and then look for ways to rescue them from the quicksand. Likewise, we cannot jump into the quicksand of worldly culture under the premise of relevancy. Rather, we place our feet squarely on Christ the solid rock before reaching out in relevancy to those who are sinking.  Our lifestyles, values and belief system must be different from those of this present culture, if we are to represent Christ accurately to this world.
Prayer: Father, help me to find people who would influence me to be more godly rather than worldly.  Help me to be someone who would influence others in a way that leads to life rather than death. I want to be salt and light of this world—help me stand firmly in You so that I can do so! Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Habakkuk 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Proverbs 12:26 (NLT): The godly give good advice to their friends, the wicked lead them astray; Proverbs 13:20 (NLT): Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.
Question to Consider
1. What is the writer of these proverbs trying to communicate?
2. Are there ungodly relationships in your life that influence you negatively?  
Notes
1. Who we surround ourselves with is very important – they can either cause us to walk on the right path or get us into trouble. We will certainly be influenced by those we surround ourselves with. 
2. Reflection question. 

Evening Reflection

There is a tension between being relevant and living a life that is set apart. If our lives are not different from those who set their minds on earthly things, how are we to influence them to set their minds on heavenly things? Perhaps we need to take an inventory of our relationships once again and intentionally seek out people who we see having godly wisdom.