Christ's Revealing Light

Scripture – Amos 4:10-13: ¹⁰“I sent plagues among you as I did to Egypt. I killed your young men with the sword, along with your captured horses. I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camps, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD. ¹¹“I overthrew some of you as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD. ¹²“Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel.” ¹³He who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals his thoughts to man, he who turns dawn to darkness, and treads the high places of the earth—the LORD God Almighty is his name.

Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) God has given His people numerous chances to turn around and return to Him. Yet they have not done that. So now, we come to this ominous command, “Prepare to meet your God, O Israel.” Everything Amos has said so far indicates this will not be a pleasant experience.

Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) This phrase usually comes up in relation to death. At the same time, it sounds like Israel will be meeting the Lord God Almighty in life. Had the people really missed that they were doing anything wrong? Or had they simply become so used to it they didn’t notice? Was Amos putting his finger on something they had long ignored, but really knew to be true? There are things in my life – mainly attitudes of my heart – that I usually ignore. I will open myself at a deeper level to Christ’s revealing light. I will identify at least one area where I need to turn around. I will make that turn today.

Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Lord, I usually know more than I let on. You know that. Give me a deeper honesty within myself. Give me courage and power to turn around and come back to you where I’ve refused to do so. Thank you for the promise of new life.