The Book of Amos consists of nine chapters. There are many takeaways from reading this book. The main application we can take from this is that complacency can lead to devastation. Don’t get so full of yourself and the luxuries of life that you forget about who and Whose you are.
Here are my thoughts on just the first four chapters. I’d love to encourage you to read along with me and share your view with me.
Thoughts:
- Amos was an ordinary man. He didn’t come from a lineage of prophets or priests. He was a shepherd from a small town. God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things for Him. God can and will use you!
- Amos was tasked to bring a not so pleasant message to many. The message was not popular, and it was even discouraging, but it had to be done.
- When reading verse 3 through chapter 2, I believe that God was the originator of copy/paste. He reiterated eight times, “The people of ______ have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished.” (1:3,6,9,11,13, 2:1 and 4)
- Seven of the cities received a stern word from the Lord, yet Israel heard the most severe. Why? Because they knew better.
- When you are a Christian, you are not given a free pass to sin. Your consequences may be worse because you know better.
- In Chapter 2 verses 10-11, God reminds them of who they are. Do you need reminding who and Whose you are? This is a phrase I’ve told my children, and others, for years. You are a child of God. Act like it.
- At the start of chapter three, God posed rhetorical questions to demonstrate cause and effect. Remember that when you sin, there will be consequences.
- “My people have forgotten how to do right,” says the LORD. Amos 3:10. Let us not ever forget how to do right for the Lord. Do so by staying in His word. Daily!
- Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Romans 6:15-16 I pray that you will live a righteous life.
- Read chapter 4:1-2 and be reminded that when you enslave others for your selfish benefit, you will reap the actions of a slave yourself. Treat others the way you want to be treated.
- God did another copy/paste moment. Four times, in verses 8-11, we read “But still you would not return to Me”, says the LORD. Using expressions from these verses, no matter how dry and deserted, unfruitful, thirsty you may get, diseased you may become, loss of life occurs, destroyed, when you don’t turn to God, you will pay a price. Just stop sinning and look to Jesus. God rules! Not you.
Blessings to you and yours,
Stephanie
Featured photo: Our dog, Maui, says to jump on in God’s word and let it refresh you.