- The Lord God has sworn by himself, declares the Lord, the God of hosts: “I abhor the pride of Jacob and hate his strongholds, and I will deliver up the city and all that is in it.” Amos 6:8 – The Israel that Amos spoke to was not in an economic crisis. They weren’t in a famine and they weren’t under invasion. Israel at this time was in a season of prosperity. Scripture says they were eating well, sleeping on beds of ivory, and having great houses. Yet all this was at the root of their sin. Due to their prosperity they had turned to pride. They believed they were greater and more mighty than other nations, and certainly didn’t need God to help them anymore. What we see in our passage is God’s posture towards their pride. He said He abhorred it, that their pride disgusted Him. In fact three times in scripture do we see this verse stated, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5, James 4:6, Proverbs 3:34). God despises our pride. We when begin to think of ourselves as all that and no longer need God in our life because we got all life handled ourself, that’s the heart posture God abhors and opposes. When Israel found themselves here, God humbled them, and so will He today with those who dwell in pride. Any sin that leads us to believe we don’t need God is going to be something the Lord is certainly going to address in our life, and what sin does that more that pride? Know today you need God. Know today you are not enough to make it to Heaven on your own. We need Jesus in our life for our wit and strength aren’t enough. Settle knowing that a humbling of our pride isn’t shameful when we’re humbling before God. God opposes the proud, but He gives grace and exalts the humble. The greatest position in life is not standing boldly for yourself, its kneeling before the God of the universe. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3294
- Pass over to Calneh, and see, and from there go to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Or is their territory greater than your territory (v.2) If you had seen someone far stronger than you fail at lifting a weight, would you assume you’d be able to lift it? If you knew someone was far smarter than you at a subject and they failed the test, do you really think you’d be able to ace it? The reason why I’m asking these rhetorical questions is because in a way, that’s what Amos is doing too. God is asking the people, “Since these nations who are far stronger than you couldn’t stand up against what I sent them, do you really think you’ll be able to?” If their “gods” couldn’t protect them, why would you run to their “gods” and expect any different outcome for you? The question then gets redirected unto us, why would we expect any different outcome for us when we run to things not of God when those before us and around us didn’t find what they needed from sin? I could lead the direction of this devotion to help those of us who need to step out of a sinful lifestyle, but I think you can already see where I could go with that message without me outlining it out for you. How about for those of us on the other side. For those of us who have been there, seen the pain ourselves, and come out the other side with the firsthand knowledge that sin isn’t worth it. Let’s actually step into the stories of those struggling with sin and use what we have learned to help them see a side of sin they haven’t seen yet. The side that the enemy doesn’t want them to see. The side that shows how damaging sin really is for them. Let’s open up that side for them with our story with sin. Let’s not hide our past, but rather use it to help someone who is struggling see the pain of sin without them having to experience the pain themselves. That’s what really family does for each other. – Daily DEVO 48
- Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music, who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! Amos 6:4-6 – Notice what is spoken right there at the end, “But are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!” We have scripture speaking of people who are so caught up with the pleasures of the world that they forget about the troubles of others. Where are you with this? How distracting to you is the pursuit of what you want? Do you see the brokenness around you while you pursue your desires? Does your pursuit of your desires keep you from stepping into the struggle of those around you? Know this sort of lifestyle grieves God. If we are too busy and too blind to see the struggles of those around us we are failing at the mission. Slow down, open your eyes, and step into the brokenness of people around you and show them Jesus can help. That’s why you are here. I love you, but Jesus loves them more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1197
- Pass over to Calneh, and see, and from there go to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Or is their territory greater than your territory, O you who put far away the day of disaster and bring near the seat of violence? Amos 6:2-3 – God is inviting His people to really look at these other nations. To notice how they have sinned and notice how God dealt with their sin. Then God asks, are you any better than they? He was opening their eyes to their deep sin, and as His beloved people who are held to an even higher standard, should they expect a lesser condemnation on their wrong? Understand today if you are a believer you are held to a higher standard as a child of God. Sin should not be something you are content with having in your story. The world is content with sin, and look at how God still punishes their sin. You are His follower, His child, and He is going to expect more from you than someone who isn’t His follower. What sin then needs to go in your story? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2082
Daily DEVO 