I've been reading the minor prophets as of late and I came upon the incredible encouraging book of Amos! Please sense my spiritual gift of sarcasm here! I don't mean to be ugly but most of the prophets sound pretty "glass half empty" in their deliverance. In their defense, God called them preach in some INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT days. Their messages aren't sugar coated and don't resemble any form of what we call today "social gospel" in content. They are hard, calloused, and straight to the point of the truth! Oh that the preacher of today would be that passionate about delivering the FULL TRUTH of God as compared to worrying about pleasing mankind. For mankind is sinful, chaotic, and depraved. He seeks to fulfill his selfish desires and will chase any wind of teaching that makes himself feel better in his sinful condition. However, God is holy, righteous, and just! He never changes and His standards are always the same! Oh, that we would follow and preach His ways! Again, I can't help but go back to the Psalmist in Psalm 119:37.
Now, hear the word from Amos 5:24....
"But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."
The natural inclination of our lives as Christians is to resemble the character, heart, and attitude of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In transitive property language here... If our lives resemble that of Jesus than our lives resemble that of our Father God for the two are the same! If God's character is holiness, righteousness, and justice, then our character should be molded to that as well! For far too long we have lived in a "gray" society thinking and acting as if God doesn't really care about some issues or some things. We see circumstances and situations in light of our gray fog of confusion and chaos! However, God is not the author of chaos and confusion. He is the light and the truth! In our lives, every situation and circumstance, decision and choice is governed by two possibilities. First, the outcome will be that that pleases God's heart and will for our life. Second, that the decision will be in rebellion of God's heart and will for our life. There is not a third alternative. There is no gray area, only black and white, good and evil, right and wrong. Christian be careful to not negotiate with God and try to change His heart, character, and attitude toward your desires and your will! God never operates this way!
If we take Amos 5:24 seriously, then as Christians we stand for peace, love, and forgiveness all the while exposing injustice, sin, and wickedness! It's that Matthew 5:13-16 mentality. We are salt and light. Salt preserves the truth. Light exposes the lies and evil. Water runs naturally as it wills. It's stream is an overflowing of its character. Justice and righteousness are the natural overflows of our character as followers of Christ!
From Revelation to Application....
Are you standing up for justice and righteousness in your life and in your culture? Is your character becoming like God's character each day?
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