Monday, December 15, 2014

AMOS 4-6:

God continues to speak through Amos in warning the people to repent.  He tells them that he has been the cause of problems in order to get them to turn to God.

I gave you empty stomachs in every city and lack of bread in every town, yet you have not returned to me, declares the Lord. (4:6)

Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards...I sent plagues...I killed your young men...I overthrew some of you as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah...yet you have not returned to me, says the Lord. (4:9-11) 

He continues to list their sins and then rebukes their attempts at worship.

I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them...Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of our harps. (5:21-23)

REVELATION 5-6:

 A Scroll is revealed and the only one authorized to open it is Christ represented as a slain lamb.  All the elders and those gathered around the throne sang.

You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on earth. (5:9,10)

The scroll is opened and the plagues are released on the earth: Cold war, open war, famine, death and martrydom.

Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"

JOURNAL:

I am tired of reading about death and destruction. I want to read some happy words and see again God's love.  Over and over and over again God is rebuking and warning and forecasting doom.  No wonder the prophets are rejected and forced into exile. No one wants to constantly hear this...and there it is.  I am no different...I don't want to face my sin. I don't want to hear how I have rebelled and rejected God. I want to somehow believe that I am different that I don't deserve this.  

But I do...which is why I can rejoice in salvation. Yet I must never forget from what I have been saved and why.

  It aint the heat. It's the humility. ~ Yogi Berra