Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Amos 1-5
These first chapters of the book of Amos are written by Amos himself, one of the shepherds of Tekoa, and according to Wikipedia he spoke at a time of relative peace and prosperity and also neglect of God's laws. He spoke against an increasing divide between rich and poor, which was going on then.
In some ways, this sounds familiar, and could have been the current times we live in. In fact, as I look further into what this book has in store for us, I feel like it speaks to us now as if we were around back then, the times that followers of God then went through, the difficulties, were a lot of what we're going through starting now and getting more into, with the persecution we see Christians facing in North America already.
In chapter 4 we read how God gives his people many warnings to come to him and rely on him, but they turn away,
4:5 Burn leavened bread as a thank offering and brag about your freewill offerings — boast about them, you Israelites, for this is what you love to do,” declares the Sovereign Lord.
In the following verses we see how God gives the Israelites many hardships, like hunger (v6), withholding rain, and water to drink (v 7,8), and sending plagues (v 10), and still they refuse to truly go and commit to Him.
In chapter 5 God gives the Israelites clear commands on how to change and live,
5:4 This is what the Lord says to Israel: "Seek me and live"
5:15 Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.
It won't be easy, but the Israelites will have to change their ways if they want to truly know God and live for Him. This reminds me of our nation, many here have slipped away from truly knowing God. Many still have time to change, but it won't easy. Let's pray for our leaders in government and in private business, that they (and we) will chose wisely and make decisions that God would want.
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Amos 6-9
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For I know how many are your transgressions and how great are your sins- you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and turn aside the needy in the gate. - Amos 5:12
There is no hiding from God and we will be judged for everything we have done and not done.
Amos 5:18 What sorrow awaits you who say, "If only the day of the Lord were here!" You have no idea what you are wishing for. That day will bring darkness, not light.
This reminds me those who are fighting for the right to die by physician assisted suicide. They want their earthly pain to end, but, if they are not believers they do not realize how much worse it will be for them the moment they enter eternity, and every moment afterwards... forever. They have no idea what they are wishing for.
Yes, for the faithful, death and the future day of God's judgment will be glorious, but for the unfaithful, it will be indeed be darkness.
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