In the last blog we looked at Amos 5 and saw two things. God does not want us simply lingering on the better life that is to come in heaven. There's work here to do sharing the name of Jesus and strengthening a real and healthy relationship with him.
Better can wait. In his time.
"Woe to you who are complacent in Zion and to you who feel secure on Mount Sa_maria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come! You lie on beds inlaid with ivory and lounge on your couches. You dine on choice lams and fattened calves. You strum away on your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments. You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph." (Amos 6:1, 4-6)
The end of Amos 5 reminds us that we should not simply go through the motions of our worship. And in Amos 6, we are reminded not to be complacent. It is a reminder not to sit back and enjoy life. No. We are to run a good race here! We are to work for his name and his glory, telling others of his salvation. We can still enjoy life here. But we should not be complacent in our enjoyment of life. Not longing simply for the day of the Lord. But longing to see others avoid destruction on the day of the Lord.
I've failed here. You have too.
I have failed in telling others about Jesus. You have too.
I have failed in being real in my worship, both on Sunday on in the week. You have too.
Yet there is hope.
"In that day I will restore David's fallen tent. I will repair its broken places and restore its ruins... New wine will drip from their mountains and flow from the hills... They will plant vineyards and dink their wine. They will make gardens and eat their fruit." (Amos 9:11, 13-14)
The day will come when we will be restored. We will be made complete. By the blood of Jesus we will see restoration and light on that terrible day of the Lord. I'm grateful for that assurance (John 5:24).
But I don't long for that day of light and restoration in the same way I once did. Worship on and after that day of the Lord will be awesome. But I have work here to do. Worship here that is needed by the Lord. Worship which, only by the power of the God, will draw people closer to him, so they will experience what I will experience.
Better can wait. In his time.
worship him 24/7...
scott
Better can wait. In his time.
"Woe to you who are complacent in Zion and to you who feel secure on Mount Sa_maria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come! You lie on beds inlaid with ivory and lounge on your couches. You dine on choice lams and fattened calves. You strum away on your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments. You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph." (Amos 6:1, 4-6)
The end of Amos 5 reminds us that we should not simply go through the motions of our worship. And in Amos 6, we are reminded not to be complacent. It is a reminder not to sit back and enjoy life. No. We are to run a good race here! We are to work for his name and his glory, telling others of his salvation. We can still enjoy life here. But we should not be complacent in our enjoyment of life. Not longing simply for the day of the Lord. But longing to see others avoid destruction on the day of the Lord.
I've failed here. You have too.
I have failed in telling others about Jesus. You have too.
I have failed in being real in my worship, both on Sunday on in the week. You have too.
Yet there is hope.
"In that day I will restore David's fallen tent. I will repair its broken places and restore its ruins... New wine will drip from their mountains and flow from the hills... They will plant vineyards and dink their wine. They will make gardens and eat their fruit." (Amos 9:11, 13-14)
The day will come when we will be restored. We will be made complete. By the blood of Jesus we will see restoration and light on that terrible day of the Lord. I'm grateful for that assurance (John 5:24).
But I don't long for that day of light and restoration in the same way I once did. Worship on and after that day of the Lord will be awesome. But I have work here to do. Worship here that is needed by the Lord. Worship which, only by the power of the God, will draw people closer to him, so they will experience what I will experience.
Better can wait. In his time.
worship him 24/7...
scott