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 Songs 1:13 A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me.Myrrh may well be chosen as the type of Jesus on account of its preciousness, its perfume, its pleasantness, its healing, preserving, disinfecting qualities, and its connection with sacrifice. But why is he compared to "a bundle of myrrh"? First, for plenty. He is not a drop of it, he is a casket full. He is not a sprig or flower of it, but a whole bundle. There is enough in Christ for all my necessities; let me not be slow to avail myself of him. Our well-beloved is compared to a "bundle" again, for variety: for there is in Christ not only the one thing needful, but in "him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily;" everything needful is in him. Take Jesus in his different characters, and you will see a marvellous variety--Prophet, Priest, King, Husband, Friend, Shepherd. Consider him in his life, death, resurrection, ascension, second advent; view him in his virtue, gentleness, courage, self-denial, love, faithfulness, truth, righteousness--everywhere he is a bundle of preciousness. He is a "bundle of myrrh" for preservation--not loose myrrh to be dropped on the floor or trodden on, but myrrh tied up, myrrh to be stored in a casket. We must value him as our best treasure; we must prize his words and his ordinances; and we must keep our thoughts of him and knowledge of him as under lock and key, lest the devil should steal anything from us. Moreover, Jesus is a "bundle of myrrh" for speciality; the emblem suggests the idea of distinguishing, discriminating grace. From before the foundation of the world, he was set apart for his people; and he gives forth his perfume only to those who understand how to enter into communion with him, to have close dealings with him. Oh! blessed people whom the Lord hath admitted into his secrets, and for whom he sets himself apart. Oh! choice and happy who are thus made to say, "A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me." Daily Light on the Daily Path Proverbs 3:9 Honor the LORD from your wealth And from the first of all your produce;2 Corinthians 9:6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come. Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 Corinthians 5:14,15 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; • and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 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. |
    |