Now Is the Time to Worship

Scripture – Amos 8:4-7: ⁴Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land, ⁵saying, “When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?”—skimping the measure, boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales, ⁶buying the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings with the wheat. ⁷The LORD has sworn by the Pride of Jacob: “I will never forget anything they have done.

Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) It’s easier than I care to admit to disconnect worship from daily living. In verse 5 I see the image of people sitting in church on Sunday morning, going over plans for the coming week – figuring out how to make even more money by cutting more corners. There’s no worship of God. Sunday becomes no more than an interruption in the work week – a pause from what’s really important. God will remember that.

Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) One effect of worship is that my attention moves off myself. As I seek God’s presence, as I lift up the name of Christ, as I bow my self before Him, I lose sight of who I am and what’s going on in my life. That’s when Christ can do His best work in me. I will worship and praise God today. I will keep myself humbled before Him today – throughout all the plans I have. I will keep myself open to His transforming presence today.

Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Thank you, Lord, for the changes you have effected in me already this day. Guide my steps today. That I might worship you in all I do and am.