Amos 5 - 3.10.26

Scripture: Amos 5:4 - 5

This is what the Lord says to Israel:

“Seek me and live;

    do not seek Bethel,
do not go to Gilgal,
    do not journey to Beersheba.
For Gilgal will surely go into exile,
    and Bethel will be reduced to nothing.”

Observation

As a prophet prophesying during the time of great prosperity for the people of God, Amos was delivering a message of warning to God’s people of how far they had strayed from relationship with Him. Though prosperous in worldly things, they were forsaking the covenant with God, and He was speaking of their impending doom if they didn’t return. In this passage, we see the Lord telling His people how to return to Him. 

Verse 5 says “do not seek Bethel” - Bethel is a place of strong significance to the Israelites. It literally means ‘house of God’ and was a place of divine encounter. The verse ‘Do not go to Gilgal"‘ is another place of significance to them. It is the site where God rolled away the reproach of the Egyptians. The verse‘ Do not journey to Beersheba’ was a patriarchal site for them, a sacred place of covenant. Gilgal was going to go into exile though it was once a place they found refuge. Bethel was going to be reduced to nothing though it was the very house of God they had chosen to worship their idols. When the places of worship and covenant become places of vanity, idol worship and empty worship to our King, we must learn to look inward and fix our relationship with Him.

Application

Seek God who is Spirit - not places where you once met Him. True worship is a heart postured to God not just the songs we sing at church on a Sunday morning during a worship set. When we only worship God in church or through religiosity passed through generations, worship becomes empty and more about our traditions than God. We should be careful not to make worshipping God formulaic or dull our hearts to truly seeking Him and giving Him our all. I myself have met God in many places in my life, in unexpected ways, and during moments I never thought He would meet me. I have walked out of church services during panic attacks and felt the presence of God rest next to me as I lost control of myself on the hard concrete of a church parking lot while in the midst of shame, debilitating loneliness and fear. He came to me and I was able to worship and praise Him in that moment. God has brought me to worship locked behind the heavy metal doors of mental hospitals, on a run outside, under a tree in the park, in a grocery store, a dentist office and in my car. True worship doesn’t require a place, it requires a heart that is seeking God no matter where you are. We can seek the places we once found Him, or where our parents found Him, and remain comfortable or we can lace up our spiritual shoes, and move with Him wherever He goes, and worship Him on the way to our destination.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for your open invitation to worship you in spirit and in truth. As temples of God, we seek to fill our bodies with your praise. Our bodies are instruments of worship. Help us to use them for what you created them for. Jesus came in the flesh, not only to redeem humanity but to redeem the very bodies we live in. These earthen vessels need to be filled with your glory Father. Help us to seek you with our whole heart and not give lip service. As the song says “shake up the ground of all my religion and break down the walls of all my tradition” because your way is indeed better than anything! Amen

- Shanese Hamilton

Psalm 17 - 3.9.26

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 17:1 - 15

1  Hear me, Lord, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer—it does not rise from deceitful lips.

2  Let my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right.

3  Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed.

4  Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what your lips have commanded.

5  My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled.

6  I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.

7  Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.

8  Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings

9  from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.

10 They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance.

11  They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.

12  They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a fierce lion crouching in cover.

13  Rise up, Lord, confront them, bring them down; with your sword rescue me from the wicked.

14  By your hand save me from such people, Lord, from those of this world whose reward is in this life. May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies; may their children gorge themselves on it, and may there be leftovers for their little ones.

15  As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

OBSERVATION

In this passage, David is crying out to God, his sole Redeemer, whom he acknowledges for justice. David humbly comes to God to save him from his enemies. He comes with an innocent heart, with no ill will, and with assurance. David was only seeking vindication from God and not man. He understood that God was merciful, even to the wicked, providing them with earthly blessings that were temporary. David was seeking God, His protection and all of the spiritual blessings that comes with Him.

APPLICATION

We, as Christians, must remember that Christ is our Redeemer, not only spiritually but in our daily walk with Him. We can seek refuge from the trials of life such as worry, doubt, sickness, bad relationships, financial issues, job issues, etc. We may not have enemies trying to take our lives, such as David did or our brothers and sisters facing persecution in various parts of the world, but we have an enemy that is prowling around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). God will vindicate us from Satan’s accusations from our past, and protect us from the tools that Satan may try to use to cause us to stumble. As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 6:11, “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” With a repentant heart, we can boldly come to God and be sheltered. If we seek Him first for every situation in our lives, we can truly find peace. 

PRAYER

Lord, I thank You for being a God that listens and hears our prayers when we are in distress, regardless of the situation. I thank You, Jesus, for giving us direction of comfort, and not to worry when you said to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Lord Jesus, I ask You to protect me from Satan’s attacks. I ask You to help me remember Your words and to seek You during the unpredictable emergencies and trials that life will bring. I pray that I put all of my trust in You. Amen

- Darrence Hamilton

Colossians 3 - 3.6.26

Scripture: Colossians 3:15-17

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Observation: 

Peace should be the ruler of our hearts, but we have to let it.  That last part stood out to me.  Paul had been instructing the Colossians as God’s chosen people what to set their mind on and how to live.  He now tells them to be thankful and let Christ’s message dwell among them “richly.”  When you are rich, you have abundance.  That message dwells in them as they teach and encourage each other in all wisdom.  

We are to sing with gratitude. The options to do this are:

Psalms - poems in the Bible written by David and others

Hymns - songs that praise God and recount His goodness

Songs from the Spirit - original song that come out of relationship with God.

Paul states we are to do everything in the name of Jesus and once again reminds us to give thanks. 

Application: 

I need to choose and allow Peace to rule my heart.  In today’s circumstances there are many things that can easily steal our peace.  Even with all the bad news out there it is possible. I need to remember to set my mind on things above and not this earth.  Gratitude gets my focus back on track.  It is interesting that we are encouraged to sing to teach wisdom.  Singing reaches parts of our intellect and engrains truth in our hearts.  I was amazed when I learned that people who had strokes could sing even though they can’t speak.  I witnessed this with a lady I visited at the nursing home.  I am grateful for how music can lift our spirits.  I’m in a small group with Rita and she is always sharing songs that touch her heart.  They have encouraged me too. She is living this out.  I want to do this more myself.

Prayer:

Father God, how thankful I am to you for your care and provision.  You work mightily and I don’t have to be afraid.  I choose to let peace rule in my heart.  Please show me anything that will hinder me from letting peace reign.  Thank you also for how music can touch hearts like nothing else can.  It is such a gift.  Please allow me put into practice what these verses say and get more creative in ways to do so.

Thank you for choosing me and that I am dearly loved.  Help me clothe myself in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. May I forgive as you have forgiven me. May I do everything in Jesus name and bring honor to Him. Amen

- Cindy Howard