Seeking God Leads to Life
Seeking God Leads to Life || Amos 5:4 || Judith Jenkins
For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: Seek me and live (NRSV)
For thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel, seek ye Me, and ye shall live (KJV)
My first thought after reading this scripture was, well duh. Of course, seeking God leads to life, how else are we going to get there. To paraphrase John 10:10; Jesus came so that we would have life and have it more abundantly. So, what led Amos to stress the seeking of God multiple times in chapter 5?
As most know, context is important. Amos, not known as a major prophet, is seeing how the people of Isreal are enjoying their festivals and celebrating their wealth without regard for how others around them are suffering.
The people, through their religious performance, are not actually serving God. Amos is reminding the people that God is not impressed by their wealth and rituals. God wants their hearts to focus on Him, so the entire land can prosper. Authentic life, joy and peace, comes not from material possessions but by living with purpose through the eyes of God.
Are you/we going through the religious motions as Israel does in this chapter? This week the devotionals are focused on the importance of seeking God first, whole heartedly and without reservation. Our relationship with God is what will reap benefits. To paraphrase 2 Chronicles 31:21 and 2 Chronicles 26:5, when we seek God with all our heart, in every work and every action, we will prosper. BUT that prosperity, true joy and peace, only comes when and while we seek Him.
What are you really seeking today? When did you last sit with Him? Is there something blocking or distracting you from Him? I am reminded of the song Dusty Bibles by Josiah Queen. A song about the effects of being distracted by things instead of focusing on Gods word and our relationship with Him. It is time to remove the distractions.
Amos 5:4-6: Emphasizes that "seeking God" is synonymous with doing good, establishing justice, and avoiding the superficial worship that ignores the oppression of the poor.
Prayer: Lord, help us be honest with where we are in our relationship with you. Help us to head Your call to 'Seek me and live', wholeheartedly put you first, delight in You and continue to draw nearer to You.
For thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel, seek ye Me, and ye shall live (KJV)
My first thought after reading this scripture was, well duh. Of course, seeking God leads to life, how else are we going to get there. To paraphrase John 10:10; Jesus came so that we would have life and have it more abundantly. So, what led Amos to stress the seeking of God multiple times in chapter 5?
As most know, context is important. Amos, not known as a major prophet, is seeing how the people of Isreal are enjoying their festivals and celebrating their wealth without regard for how others around them are suffering.
The people, through their religious performance, are not actually serving God. Amos is reminding the people that God is not impressed by their wealth and rituals. God wants their hearts to focus on Him, so the entire land can prosper. Authentic life, joy and peace, comes not from material possessions but by living with purpose through the eyes of God.
Are you/we going through the religious motions as Israel does in this chapter? This week the devotionals are focused on the importance of seeking God first, whole heartedly and without reservation. Our relationship with God is what will reap benefits. To paraphrase 2 Chronicles 31:21 and 2 Chronicles 26:5, when we seek God with all our heart, in every work and every action, we will prosper. BUT that prosperity, true joy and peace, only comes when and while we seek Him.
What are you really seeking today? When did you last sit with Him? Is there something blocking or distracting you from Him? I am reminded of the song Dusty Bibles by Josiah Queen. A song about the effects of being distracted by things instead of focusing on Gods word and our relationship with Him. It is time to remove the distractions.
Amos 5:4-6: Emphasizes that "seeking God" is synonymous with doing good, establishing justice, and avoiding the superficial worship that ignores the oppression of the poor.
Prayer: Lord, help us be honest with where we are in our relationship with you. Help us to head Your call to 'Seek me and live', wholeheartedly put you first, delight in You and continue to draw nearer to You.
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