SCRIPTURE
Amos 9: 1-4 (NRSV)
God searches out rebellious Israel
I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and he said:
Strike the capitals until the thresholds shake,
and shatter them on the heads of all the people;
and those who are left I will kill with the sword;
not one of them shall flee away,
not one of them shall escape.
Though they dig into Sheol,
from there shall my hand take them;
though they climb up to heaven,
from there I will bring them down.
Though they hide themselves on the top of Carmel,
from there I will search out and take them;
and though they hide from my sight at the bottom of the sea,
there I will command the sea-serpent, and it shall bite them.
And though they go into captivity in front of their enemies,
there I will command the sword, and it shall kill them;
and I will fix my eyes on them
for harm and not for good.
DEVOTION
Isn’t this a scary scripture! Goodness gracious! It makes me scared to think of rousing God’s anger to the point that God promises to “fix his eyes on me for harm and not for good.”
It seems very clear from this scripture how God feels about idolatry, sin, and lawlessness! God hates sin and can’t abide it. When we flagrantly sin, refusing to see the error of our ways and feeling truly unrepentant in our hearts, we invite disaster into our lives.
By our own actions, we bring about consequences we never even imagined! But, there is yet hope!
This side of the cross, we encounter the love, forgiveness, and grace of God revealed to us in Christ Jesus! Although we still sin and miss the mark, we have the opportunity to confess our sin, receive God’s mercy and forgiveness, and inherit eternal life.
Isn’t God’s Amazing Grace wonderful?! God showered us with love when God gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life.
In the past, God’s righteous anger burned against his stubborn and disobedient children. But, aren’t you glad that God is “gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love (Ex 34:6)?”
Aren’t you grateful that we can “confess our sin and God who is faithful and just will forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)?”
I don’t know about you, but I choose to fall into God’s love and Amazing Grace! I choose to fall into the arms of Jesus and live!
God has promised, “I have a good plan for you, not to harm you, but to give you a future and a hope (Jer 29:11)!”
Oh hallelujah! I believe that with all my heart! Because I have chosen to make my camp under the blood stained banner of Jesus Christ, I am assured of a bright and glorious future full of life and not death, blessing and not punishment, good and not evil!
My soul can barely contain my joy! God is good (all the time)! And all the time (God is good)!
Come on and celebrate God’s Amazing Grace with me! HALLELUJAH!
Will you confess your sin and receive God’s forgiveness today?
Holy One, thank you that you have made provision for my sin to be forgiven and for me to inherit eternal life. I know that I am sinful and don’t deserve your Amazing Grace. Yet, your love and grace envelop me in Jesus! Thank you that you sent Jesus to die on the cross for me. Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit. I stand in awe of your love and I want to share that love with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
If you would like to put all of your hope in Jesus today, please visit my blog entitled, “Putting All Your Hope In Jesus” located at
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/04/putting-all-your-hope-in-jesus.html
If you have additional questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, "Come to Jesus"
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html
Pastor Yolanda is now publishing another blog entitled, “A Spoken WORD” in celebration of Holy Hip Hop, Gospel/Christian Rap and Spoken Word. Please check it out @ http://aspokenword.blogspot.com/
You are invited to follow Pastor Yolanda on Twitter www.twitter.com/PastorYolanda
Good News has now added a Prayer Ministry. http://www.kindlejoy.com/groups/goodnews
You are invited to leave comments or questions regarding today’s devotional. These comments are public.
EACH ONE--REACH ONE! To share GOOD NEWS with a friend please click the "Share With Friends" button to the right!
Thanks for reading and please come again. Pastor Yolanda extends a very special welcome to all of our friends reading outside of the United States of America! We are honored that you are sharing with us today.
From Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment