Jesus follower

SCRIPTURE: Amos 5:1-17 OBSERVATION: Another warning from God during a immoral, godless time in their history. They were looking to their man-made “holy places” where they made sacrifices (Bethel, Gilgal, Beersheba), but they were not looking to their God. They were living for evil, oppressing the righteous, trampling on the poor, denying justice, taking bribes, etc….

SCRIPTURE: Micah 7:1-20 OBSERVATION: This is a time of serious depravity in Israel’s history, you can’t even trust your own family (vv.2-6). Micah speaks on behalf of the godly who have been swept away (v.2): even during this terrible time, God will set things straight (v.7). Micah (and the godly) know that they are suffering for…

SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 5:8-30 OBSERVATION: A word of judgment against those who love wealth and pleasure more than the Lord (v.12). In times of wealth, people often forget the Lord and His moral law, but ultimately they will regret it. A time when people twist the truth to justify their own deeds, who call evil good and…

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 25:1-22 OBSERVATION: David is asking the Lord to support him against those who are persecuting him, he asks the Lord to keep him from being shamed. Pleads for God’s help so that he will respond appropriately to his attackers, with integrity (v.21). He also acknowledges that he is a sinner, and therefore doesn’t deserve…

SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 3:8-22 OBSERVATION: Peter urges Christians to live in a Christlike way, even when persecuted. When challenged or questioned about our faith, we are to respond with honesty, as well as with gentleness and respect. If we are going to suffer, let it be for doing good, for the integrity of our faith rather than…

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 9:1-17 OBSERVATION: God again renews the creation mandate (first given to Adam and Eve, Genesis 1:28). This time God offers the animals for food, whereas in the beginning it was just the plants (Genesis 1:28-30). We were created to be vegetarians? This is where Jehovah’s Witnesses develop their opposition to blood transfusions, since it is like…

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 8:1-22 OBSERVATION: This is the end of the story of Noah and the flood, and how God decides not to “clean” the earth of evil in this way again. It was because every inclination of the human heart was evil from childhood (v.21) that God sent the flood in the first place (Genesis 5:5-8). The…

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 51:1-20 OBSERVATION: Written by David after he was confronted (2 Samuel 12:1-14) for committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering Uriah (2 Samuel 11:1-27). David is genuine sorrowful, recognizing how evil his sin was. He affirms that he was born a sinner, that sin poisons his whole nature. He tried to hide his sin but the Lord, who desires…

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 50:1-23 OBSERVATION: Asaph describes judgment day to challenge people to think through their relationship to God. God is the only Judge, everything in all creation will stand (or fall) before Him. Judgment day will come for God’s people (OT Israel, the NT Church, “my consecrated ones”, v.5) and He will open their hearts. God’s…