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June | June 20, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
As we continue our project of reading through the Bible by the end of this year
we come today to the book of Amos. Listen to what Amos, the prophet, says in
chapter 6, verse 1: “Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel
secure on Mount Samaria.”
Complacent, secure! What a picture of the present
western world. In verse 4 he describes their complacently as follows: “You
lie in beds inlaid with ivory and lounge on your couches. You dine on
choice lambs and fatted calves. You strum away on your harps like David
and improvise on musical instruments.”
We all know that the devil tempts every man. Not
as many know that the idle man tempts the devil. Someone has said, “An
idle life is the devil’s workshop.” Amos, who saw the evil consequences of
this in Israel, cried out, “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion” (Amos 6:1).
Israel’s religious leaders and the rich had squeezed
enough out of the poor to live in luxury: they were careless, callous and cruel
in their brotherly relationships. In their religious life they were
diligent but not devoted; formal but faithless; sensual but not spiritual.
And God hated it! They lived for themselves, having put far away the
thought of an evil day of judgment.
Denouncing their way of life Amos challenges them to
prepare to meet their God by seeking Him and His way with all their hearts.
That message is as relevant today as it was then. God still hates
superficial, shallow religious activity. He still looks for genuine
repentance and humble trust in Him. Is that what He sees in your life?
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