Tuesday, December 16, 2014

AMOS 7-9:

Chapter 7 begins with Amos prophesying Israel's demise and then being rebuked by Amaziah and King Jeroboam.  Amos' response:

I was neither a prophet nor a prophet's son, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. But the Lord took me from tending the flock and said to me, "Go prophesy to my people Israel."(7:14-16)

Amos then begins to prophesy about a famine, but not a famine of food but a famine of God's word.

"The days are coming" declares the sovereign Lord, "when I will send a famine through the land-nota a famine for food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord."

"Men will stagger from sea to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it." (8:11-12) 

The chapter does end with a promise of future blessing.

"I will bring back my exiled people Israel; the will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them," says the Lord

REVELATION 7:

The vision continues with a seal being put on those chosen from the tribes of Israel. Then a large number of diverse people in white robes appeared, holding palm branches and praising God. Then one of the elders explained who these people were.

"These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, "they are before the throne of god and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger, never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor and scorching heat. For the lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

JOURNAL:

Bitterness. Such a nasty word and yet it is such an ingrained part of life.  I see it all around me and when I am really honest, I see it in myself.  It can be further defined as " Resentment (also called ranklement or bitterness) is the experience of a negative emotion felt as a result of a real or imagined wrong done."

Bitterness and resentment therefore come from a heart that feels wronged. It comes when we don't get something that we "feel" entitled to. I know in my own life, I have certain expectations as to what I "deserve".  When those expectations aren't met I get angry and bitterness is the result.  So the next question is "what are my expectations?' 

Sadly, they come from a serious lack of gratitude.  For some reason I begin to "expect" grace and the goodness of God.  I can see the same thing over and over in the Bible. Grace and goodness becomes expected from God's children who don't deserve it, they then don't listen, don't obey.  Hmm sounds like this morning with my own children.  And there I commit the same sin...expecting them to be grateful for my flawed grace and love.  I am reminded of that old hymm "Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me"

"God loves you! So do I! Make it a great day!"