PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Amos 5-6
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Away with the noise of your songs… let justice roll on like a river!” (Amos 6:23-24)
Justice and righteousness are related, about what is fair and right.
God wants us to do what is fair and right for your neighbour.
Don’t slander them, rob from them, abuse them, exclude them or betray them.
This kind of cruel behaviour is what upsets God, and what Amos speaks against.
“Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts.” (Amos 5:15)
God defines goodness and evil through the Law of Love.
To love God and to love people, this is the heart of goodness.
Therefore evil is whatever hurts, harms or hinders God and others.
How we treat others around us, says God, is the heart of worship.
“I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me.” (Amos 6:21)
Churches spend a lot of energy making their worship services ‘good’.
But are they investing more energy in their music than in their mission?
Do we hate certain styles of worship more than we hate evil or injustice?
Justice, mercy, humility and grace… this is the worship service that matters.
PRAYER
Lord, show me where I am treating others harshly or unfairly, which is is bad worship to you. Help me to maintain justice, not just a good ‘worship service’.
“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!…Woe to you who are complacent in Zion…” Being complacent in the face of injustice or when others are suffering is wrong yet here the complacency is taking comfort that I’m part of God’s people – but if I’m not acting and advocating for justice or seeking help for the victims of disaster or abuse – then I’m not letting justice roll or righteousness to stream – then I too am empty – nothing but ‘hollow’ worship. As a Jesus follower I’ve got to walk the talk – practice and follow the leading of the HS – so that I may be a blessing to others!
A new day to serve the Lord.
‘Seek Me and live’ is repeated in chapter 5. Where will I see God this day as I serve Him? All I do is a life of worship. I need to put Him first in all things. And so with my co-volunteers, the donators that drop items off, my interaction with them must show that I am a child of the King. I need to dress myself each day with the armour of God so that I produce the fruit of the Spirit always. They need to see Christ living in me – Christian by name.
Seek ye first the kingdom of God
And His righteousness
And all these things shall be added unto you
Allelu, alleluia
Man shall not live by bread alone
But by every word
That proceeds from the mouth of God
Allelu, alleluia
Ask and it shall be given unto you
Seek and ye shall find
Knock and the door shall be opened unto you
Allelu, alleluia
Seek ye first the kingdom of God
And His righteousness
And all these things shall be added unto you
Allelu, alleluia
Man shall not live by bread alone
But by every word
That proceeds from the mouth of God
Allelu, alleluia