A Word of Hope

Scripture – Amos 9:7-8: ⁷“Are not you Israelites the same to me as the Cushites?” declares the LORD. “Did I not bring Israel up from Egypt, the Philistines from Caphtor and the Arameans from Kir? ⁸“Surely the eyes of the Sovereign LORD are on the sinful kingdom. I will destroy it from the face of the earth—yet I will not totally destroy the house of Jacob,” declares the LORD. ⁹“For I will give the command, and I will shake the house of Israel among all the nations as grain is shaken in a sieve, and not a pebble will reach the ground. ¹⁰All the sinners among my people will die by the sword, all those who say, ‘Disaster will not overtake or meet us.’

Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) At last, a word of hope is spoken! God will judge His people. The nation known as Israel will be radically changed – so much so that it will essentially be destroyed, even as a new nation emerges. There is a plan for those who have remained faithful. A new Israel is on the horizon.

Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) God’s discipline and punishment are always grounded in His lave for His people. His purpose is new life – a new creation. I will be aware of that today. His discipline in my life is always for my good. I always have that hope.

Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Lord, thank you for being an active presence in my life. Teach me through all I encounter today. Grow me a bit more. Humble me and use me. Thanks again for the great hope with which I live every day.

An Invitation – If you’re interested in a face to face discussion about what we’ve been discovering in the Mini-Journal, a small group will be meeting tomorrow morning, 9:45 – 10:30am, at the Southgate Fun and Fitness Center (on Northline near I-75). Look for them around one of the tables in the Café area.