Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.
Amos 5:24 NLT
Make no mistake about this: We are prone to lose our way with God.
Be it as an individual, family, community, church, county, state, or national level, we become enamored with options that are contrary to the heart of God. We set God aside, while still offering vague references to Him, as if we are appeasing Him. We accept a prideful self-reliance and even open up to multiple objects of worship in our arrogance.
Even within the Body of Christ, worship can so easily become production with no real concern for people who are lost and dying in complete brokenness. We don’t strain for what matters to God anymore.
The prophet Amos sees all of this as if a funeral song was being written in real time for everyone living this way. This is serious.
Listen to some of the descriptions Amos writes about when we try to live without God:
- People die in big numbers: “When a city sends a thousand men to battle, only a hundred will return.” Amos 5:3 NLT
- Bad treatment of people: “You twist justice, making it a bitter pill for the oppressed. You treat the righteous like dirt.” Amos 5:7 NLT “You trample the poor, stealing their grain through taxes and unfair rent.” Amos 5:11 NLT.
- Honesty and Truth are no longer valued: “How you hate honest judges! How you despise people who tell the truth!” Amos 5:10 NLT
Amos describes this as an evil time.
Reflection
In the context of just how serious the situation is, there is a wonderful invitation that shows up throughout the chapter “Come back to the Lord and live!” God is wanting us to know that it is not too late. We are invited to be devoted to God. We are challenged to focus on justice and a river of righteousness. We are asked to run from evil so we might live.
Encouragement
We are in a very serious time of evil, where choices being made that fly in the face of God and His ways. This invitation to “Come back to the Lord and live!” is such a gift. There is a way of living that brings freedom and help to everyone. This flows from the heart of God for the wellbeing of everyone. May we run from evil, come back to the Lord and live! May there be a flood of just and righteous living that blesses everyone in the land.
Prayer
Father God, thank You for the sobering words of Amos. Thank You for being honest with us about the evil times we live in. Thank You for being clear about our own vulnerability to get lost in all of this. Thank You for inviting us back to You, not giving up on us. Thank You for giving us yet, another opportunity to devote ourselves to You and live in ways that uplift everyone around us. Thank You for Your honest and enduring love with us.
In Jesus name, Amen