- Thus says the Lord: “As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel who dwell in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part of a bed. Amos 3:12 – To take a spiderman quote and change it up a bit, with greater privilege comes greater responsibility. Israel has been granted a very great privilege to be call the family of God. They’d been given the law and His promises. Yet if they thought that this greater privilege allowed them to bypass judgement on their sins, they were horribly mistaken. In fact God showed even grater judgement on them for they did have this privilege and blessing, they should have known better for they were taught better. The verse above describes the level of destruction then that was to come on God’s people. The image is a shepherd finding one of his sheep in the mouth of a lion, yet all he is able to bring back with him is scraps of the little lamb. Such will be the “lamb” Israel in the mouth of its enemy. When rescued all that will be left is scraps, maybe a corner of a couch and part of a bed will be found after the destruction to come. Not because God didn’t warn them or didn’t call them to repent, but because they did know and they did hear yet they chose to reject it all. As Israel was in the Old Testament so is the church in today’s time. We have been blessed with a great privilege to be a part of God’s family and called His children. We’ve not only been given His word, but also His Spirit. If anyone was to be held to a higher standard, it would be the church. Let us then live honorably to the Lord not out of fear of destruction but out of gratitude for this great privilege we’ve been given. I love you, but Jesus loves you more -Mac – Daily DEVO 3291
- For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secrets to his servants the prophets. (v.7) It’s far too easy to take an overhead shot of the Old Testament and see God as one who is vengeful and filled with anger and only wanting to punish. Time after time we see the stories of how punishment came upon His people; painting this picture of God as one who is merciless and quick-tempered. We together though have zoomed in on the stories, and seen a much different side that’s not near as often talked about. We’ve seen just how merciful and just how patient God really is. God always warned and gave chances for the people to turn back. He gave them signs and gave them prophets. Why? So His people would know what’s going on and have a choice. Either follow Him or pay the price of their disobedience. What we do see with that overhead shot is how they responded to that choice. For us, the story is clear as well. God’s not quick-tempered or impatient with us. He’s very much the opposite. He does though have a direction set for us; to walk in faith after Him. And He’s shown us in His word what it looks like and what will come out of a life that isn’t after Him: absence of joy, un-fulfillment, death. This isn’t the sentence, this is the warning. God wants so much more for you than this life, but if this life is all you want, He’ll allow you to have it and all that comes with it. Just realize God has already spoken to you in His word what that sort of life truly will bring about. There’s no surprises here. – Daily DEVO 45
- The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who can but prophesy? Amos 3:8 – Every effect has a cause. We see Amos giving multiple little examples of this inside this chapter like people being afraid due to a trumpet sound or a trap springing due to something walking over it. So why has the Lord spoken, why has the lion roared? Because of the sinfulness of the people. God’s wrath is coming because of their choice to store up violence and robbery and sin, not just because God is some mean, angry person. This sinfulness also has an effect that we see played out in verse 3. How can we walk together with God if we haven’t agreed to walk the path He’s going? Your choices today have an effect. The effects you are feeling today have a cause attached to them. Are you feeling like you’re running on empty, is it because your daily walk with God isn’t as strong lately? Are you feeling extra confident in Christ today, is it because you’ve spent extra time in prayer? Good and bad effects in our story comes from the choices we make each day in our walk. What choices then today can help you see healthier effects in your walk for tomorrow? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1194
- You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. Amos 3:2 – This is God speaking to His chosen people of Israel. He reminds them how of all the people on earth, He chose them to be His people and to reveal His will, His law, and His word to. They have a special relationship with God that no others had and as a result, they were held to a different standard. Those of us today who have a special relationship with God are held to a higher standard as well. This special relationship is where you’ve chosen to let Jesus forgive your sin and you’ve chosen to follow Him. As a result, you are now in the family of God and your Heaven Father expects you to live differently as one of His own children. You don’t live like the world does. You don’t talk like your non-Christian friends talk. You are a child of God and God is holding you to a higher standard. Is this unfair to us? Absolutely not. What’s unfair is that we’ve been given the offer of salvation. Fair would look like everyone spending eternity in Hell due to their sin. God though isn’t treating us fairly and is offering a way to life with Him instead. Yet, as we’ve seen today, in that life with God you’re called to live different. Just know the ones He holds to a higher standard are the ones He’s saved. You want to be held to a higher standard. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2079
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