1 Samuel
How we handle God’s blessing deeply illustrates our character within. From whom much is given, much will be required. Those whom God blesses are called to use their blessing for good. Before the days of the Hebrew kings, a simple Levite named Elkanah lived in the hill country of
Amos
God is a God of diversity unified under the umbrella of people trying to follow His ways. When He created, He created a rich and diverse world. He appreciates variety. Amos’ final vision is one of restoration. The prophetic books often contain messages of hope at or near the end,
Amos
When God sets a course of action, what can we do to stop it? How can any of us stop God’s will? Who among us has the power to withstand God’s omnipotence? The last of the judgment passages are finished in Amos. Quite elegantly, God said His piece
Amos
God still loves the rebellious, but He cannot do much with them. Rebellion is a condition of the heart. Rebellion is a choice, and forcing people to act a certain way is counter to free will. Little can be done in the rebellious heart until a person lets go of
Amos
When our eyes are not focused on God, it can be hard to find genuine truth. The world has no shortage of opportunities to believe. The question is never “do we believe;” the question is always “what do we believe in?” God gives three images to prepare the Hebrew people
Amos
When we walk away from God, sometimes we get what we ask for. There are times the only way we learn is the hard way. Occasionally, the choices we make force us to deal with the consequences before we can correct our course and recover. Some decisions are just bad,
Amos
The worst human atrocities usually have the effect of silence. Minor injustices get people gossiping. Significant injustices fan flames to get people planning. True atrocities are so horrible people don’t want to talk; they want to forget. Conversely, there is nothing better than a basket of summer fruit! I
Amos
The choice is always ours to make. Our heart determines which choice we pick. The humble heart listens to God and makes course corrections along the way. The proud heart stands firm, refusing to change. Amaziah, a priest of Bethel, sends word to the king about Amos. He accuses Amos
Amos
God’s perspective is always true. As the visions from the prior verses indicate, He invites conversation about it. God is willing to relent or postpone or even forgive. Even so, He is always right. God comes before Amos in another vision. Amos sees a wall and some means of
Amos
In our prayers, God knows our heart. This can be true in collective prayer, but it is especially true in our individual prayer. When we lift our eyes to heaven and bear our soul to Him, our heart is on display. In those moments, not only does God know our
Amos
Nothing can break our relationship with God. He might get frustrated at our choices and be angry when we sin, but He promises to forgive. He might shake his head when do something thoughtless, but He knows we cannot see the future. He might wonder what we are thinking, but
Amos
Because of the elite, all Israel faces God’s judgment. We do not live in a vacuum. Decisions I make impact the lives of others. Decisions others make impact me. It reminds me of Locard’s Exchange Principle: Every contact leaves a trace. They say pride goes before the fall.