Bible League: Living His Word Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is.— Amos 5:14 NIV You say that the Lord God Almighty is with you. You say that things are good between you and Him. In your mind, you have no reason to expect anything but good from the Lord. After all, you say in defense of yourself, you go to church on a regular basis, you pay your tithes faithfully, you mouth the right religious words when prompted, and you participate in the rituals of the church. Why wouldn't the Lord God be good to you? Why wouldn't He be merciful to you and protect you? From your point of view, you're salt of the earth. You have your religious life in proper order. Is it real, or is it all a sham? Amos' audience had erected a religious faÇade. Have you done the same? Maybe you grew up in the church, or have been attending one for a long time, so you know the routines. You know what it takes for your friends and fellow church-goers to think well of you. It's important to you that they think well of you, but maybe that's as far as it goes. Is it important to you that you look righteous and up-standing, but true righteousness and goodness are not really your top priorities? The Lord wants you to take a hard look in the mirror. Are you half-hearted when it comes to seeking good and not evil? Do you want to look good, but actually being good does not concern you? Like the ancient Israelites of the prophet Amos' day, you say that the Lord God Almighty is with you, you assume He will continue to bless you as He has in the past, but the truth may be that your heart is far from Him. The message of the prophet is that you can't go on like this and expect the goodness of the Lord to continue for you. Don't allow His patience to fool you. His patience is meant to lead you to repentance (Romans 2:4). If this does describe you, don't stay in your hypocrisy. Jesus is knocking. Repent today and turn things around! Seek good and not evil. Then the Lord God Almighty will actually be with you, and you will live. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading1 Samuel 13, 14 1 Samuel 13 -- War with the Philistines NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Samuel 14 -- Jonathan's Miraculous Victory; Saul's Foolish Order; Jonathan Disobeys NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 14:1-24 Luke 14 -- Jesus Heals Again on the Sabbath; Parable of the Banquet; Cost of Discipleship NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Gray hair is a crown of glory;it is gained by living a godly life. Insight The Hebrews believed that a long life was a sign of God's blessing; therefore, gray hair and old age were good. While young people glory in their strength, old people can rejoice in their years of experience and practical wisdom. Gray hair is not a sign of disgrace to be covered over; it is a crown of splendor. Challenge As you deal with older people, treat them with respect. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Leviticus 1:4 And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.Our Lord's being made "sin for us" is set forth here by the very significant transfer of sin to the bullock, which was made by the elders of the people. The laying of the hand was not a mere touch of contact, for in some other places of Scripture the original word has the meaning of leaning heavily, as in the expression, "thy wrath lieth hard upon me" (Psalm 88:7). Surely this is the very essence and nature of faith, which doth not only bring us into contact with the great Substitute, but teaches us to lean upon him with all the burden of our guilt. Jehovah made to meet upon the head of the Substitute all the offences of his covenant people, but each one of the chosen is brought personally to ratify this solemn covenant act, when by grace he is enabled by faith to lay his hand upon the head of the "Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world." Believer, do you remember that rapturous day when you first realized pardon through Jesus the sin-bearer? Can you not make glad confession, and join with the writer in saying, "My soul recalls her day of deliverance with delight. Laden with guilt and full of fears, I saw my Saviour as my Substitute, and I laid my hand upon him; oh! how timidly at first, but courage grew and confidence was confirmed until I leaned my soul entirely upon him; and now it is my unceasing joy to know that my sins are no longer imputed to me, but laid on him, and like the debts of the wounded traveller, Jesus, like the good Samaritan, has said of all my future sinfulness, Set that to my account.'" Blessed discovery! Eternal solace of a grateful heart! "My numerous sins transferr'd to him, Shall never more be found, Lost in his blood's atoning stream, Where every crime is drown'd!" Daily Light on the Daily Path Revelation 21:25 In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed;Isaiah 60:19 "No longer will you have the sun for light by day, Nor for brightness will the moon give you light; But you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, And your God for your glory. Revelation 21:24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Revelation 22:5 And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever. 1 Peter 2:9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; Colossians 1:12,13 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. • For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, Ephesians 5:8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 1 Thessalonians 5:5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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