Mon.’s Devo - God is Justice

Read: Amos 4:1-6:14; Relation 2:18-3:6; Psalm 130:1-8; Proverbs 29:21-22 Amos doesn’t hold back. He calls the women fat cows because they oppressed the poor while lounging in their wealth and only thinking about feeding their own bodies and souls. They would soon be thrown from their fancy houses and led with hooks into exile. *** They gave their sacrifices to the idols at Bethel and bragged about their giving. God had judged them with hunger and famine but they still refused to turn to the Lord. God stopped the rain and their harvests all dried up. He sent plagues to get their attention but they still refused to turn to him. He destroyed their cities and caused their young soldiers to die on the battle field. *** Amos cried out to the people to stop worshipping at the pagan altars in Bethel, Gilgal and Beersheba but to no avail. They had twisted justice and hated honest judges. They trampled the poor, stealing their grain through taxes and unfair rent. For themselves, they built beautiful stone houses, but they will not live in them much longer. *** There will be a show of open mourning when God’s judgement falls. They will want it to be the day of the Lord but they have no idea what they are asking for. The day of the Lord will be a day when it will be dark and hopeless without a ray of joy or hope. *** God hates their hypocrisy and lies. They worship other gods along with worshiping him. It reminds Him of the children of Israel who he rescued out of Egypt and they worshipped Sakkuth, their king god and Taiwan their star God. They made images of what they thought these gods looked like when God was the King of Kings and the maker of the stars. Amos warns them of what is coming and tells them to do to other cities where God’s judgement has already fallen and observe. God was about to depopulate his family. This is what happens when justice becomes poison and righteousness is turned into bitterness. They could boast in their armies but one is coming they would not be strong enough to fight. *** In Revelation, John is told to write to the church at Thyatira and tell them that God sees how they have grown in love, faith and service and how they have patiently endured. But, they had not gotten rid of the prophetess Jezebel. She teaches the people to commit sexual sins and to eat food offered to idols. Because she refuses to repent, she will suffer as well as her followers. Her children will die also as a sign of God’s judgment. There are those who have not followed this false teaching which they call the “deeper truths”. God encourages them to keep holding on to the end. They will be given authority over the nations. *** To the angel of the church at Sardis, God said to wake up and return to him. If they don’t, God will come to them suddenly as a thief. The ones who were not doing evil, God promised them that they would walk with him in white because they would be found worthy. They will be announced as victorious and their names will never be erased from the Book of Life. *** Lord, thank you for your wonderful promises to those who endure. May we patiently endure the tine we are living in. Thank you that you are at work judging evil and bringing in your Kingdom.