A few verses jumped out at me this morning in my reading/journal time. I found myself in the book of Amos. Honestly, that’s not a book I find myself in unless I’m doing one of the “read through the bible” reading plans. But today, a few verses jumped out that I found myself writing and commenting on.
Amos 3:3 “Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?”
What a simple, yet powerful thought. If I am going to walk with Christ – I must first agree to walk in His direction – meaning I have to walk in the direction He is walking, not walk in a direction toward Him. What direction am I walking? Did I agree on the Lord’s direction or did I just start “walking” without even checking. I am very prone to just start walking… perhaps that’s why I find myself not where I thought I’d be in my relationship with Him sometimes.
Additionally, the Lord will only walk in one direction – His direction… the direction of truth and righteousness… the right (correct) way. He will never vary or divert off that direction. All other directions are wrong… that just hit me… all other directions are wrong!
Lord – I choose to agree with you and your direction today… Where do you want me to walk?
Amos 3:7 “Indeed the Sovereign LORD never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets.”
Amos 4:13 “For the LORD is the one who shaped the mountains, stirs up the winds, and reveals his thoughts to mankind. He turns the light of dawn to darkness and treads on the heights of the earth. The LORD God of Heaven’s Armies is his name.”
God is POWERFUL and mighty! He does not need my permission to move or act. Yet, he reveals his thoughts to man before he moves. If I can’t see God moving in my life, could it be he has no one to reveal it to? Am I available to hear Him – to be revealed to – or is my life too cluttered with less important things? Am I able to hear Him? Am I prepared to hear his plans?
Amos 3:10 ” ‘My people have forgotten how to do right,’ says the LORD.”
What a sobering verse. What a horrible place to be. I never want to be identified by the LORD as that kind of person.
Amos 5:12 “For I know the vast number of your sins and the depth of your rebellion.”
Another sobering verse. I am of vast sins and deep rebellion…. and God knows it and knows all of it.
Even with God’s love and redemptive plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, he still requires obedience – not as a way to earn salvation – not as an entry requirements – not as anything we could do that would require he “owe” us. God requires obedience as a bi-product of a changed life, a redeemed heart – a transformation of a dead in my sins being to a forgiven being and new creation- to save us from the calamity and consequences that follow a life of poor choices, vast sins, and deep rebellion.
Amos 5:14 “Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live!”
… Running After Papa