I have been studying the book of Amos for the last couple of days. This book was written by a man named Amos (shocker right). Unlike some other prophets, Amos was a normal man. He was a shepherd without any ministry credentials. But God called Him. God called him to warn the Israelites one last time of their impending doom and to give them a final chance at crying out in remorse for their wrongs. The Israelites were a group of people that God had chosen, descendants of Jacob. He rescued them from the hands of oppressors and promised them great things. God intended for the Israelites to be a model for all to come. Showing the blessings that result from following the Lord as well as the punishment that comes from disobeying.
The Israelites lived in a time governed by the law of the Old Covenant. This law was given as a guide on how to live a life honoring to God. It was meant to shed light onto just how much they needed God and His guidance. They knew full well what was expected of them and they ignored it. They worshiped other gods, exploited the poor, were hypocritical with their faith, sought out their selfish desires, and ignored God’s many calls to come back.
Amos 4 describes instance after instance in which the Lord gave Israel opportunities to return to Him but they did not. Because they didn’t return to the Lord in a state of sorrow, they were forced to face a side of God that I never want anyone to have to experience.
Amos 4: 12-13
“Therefore this is what I will do to you Israel, and because I will do this to you Israel, prepare to meet your God. He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth- the Lord God Almighty is his name”
Prepare to meet your God. Those five words screamed off the page. The same God who makes the stars shine, places clouds in the sky, brews up storms, the one who makes the sun come up every morning. He is the one Israel had to answer to. He is the one who delegated out their punishment. But, because God is merciful, this unenviable statement is followed by a final call back to Him.
Amos 5:4
“This is what the Lord says to Israel: Seek me and live.”
Amos 5:6
“Seek the Lord and live, or he will sweep through the tribes of Joseph like a fire; it will devour them, and Bethel will have no one to quench it.”
Amos 5:14
“Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is.”
It could not be simpler. Seek God and live.
Seek Him and find redemption. Because of grace, Jesus came, lived a perfect life, a life we could never live. Through His death on the cross, He took on the punishment we deserve. His blood paid the price for all sins to follow. Because of this sacrifice, the Old Covenant was replaced with a relationship. Instead of relying on the law for guidance, we are invited to have a personal relationship with the Lord. The Holy Spirit is now our guide, living inside of every believer. Our disobedience has already been made right. All that is left to do is to accept that gift with faith and a humble heart. Seek the Lord and live.
Stop looking for satisfaction from what the world says is good. Stop satisfying human selfish desires. Simply seek God and live. Seek Him and live with a respect for his power and authority. Seek Him and live with the knowledge that His almighty power is now working in favor not in opposition. Instead of preparing to meet the maker of the world with fear, seek him and live for a joyous homecoming.
Choosing to seek God amidst the turmoil of this world is hard. But once that decision is made, a life seeking after Him becomes easy. Not saying that all troubles will vanish. But it will be put into perspective. One day these worldly problems will cease to exist. So, the choice becomes, seek the world and prepare to meet your maker in judgement, or seek the Lord and live.
If you’re reading this and have never made the decision to follow the Lord, maybe you’ve made that decision but don’t know where to turn next, or just have questions about what it looks like to seek the Lord, please email me! [email protected]
Romans 8:31
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 6:14
“For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”
Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
***Typhoid update: After being stuck in bed for a week, the medicine is doing its job and I am feeling much better. My energy is coming back and I’m slowly becoming able to function like normal. Thank you so much for all the prayers! ***
