Sunday, April 5, 2020

HEAR! RETURN!

Today’s Reading: Amos 3-4

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

There are many spectacular mountain views as you explore Petra in Jordan. In our key verse, God is called, “He Who forms mountains.”

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verses: Amos 3:7, 4:13

Surely the Lord God does nothing,

Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.

…For behold,

He who forms mountains,

And creates the wind,

Who declares to man what his thought is,

And makes the morning darkness,

Who treads the high places of the earth–

The Lord God of hosts is His name.

 

Some believe that God as the Creator has abandoned His creation, hanging the world on nothing (Job 26:7), and then He proceeded to move to another part of the cosmos. Amos makes it clear that God has been involved in the past, is involved in the present, and will be involved in the future! There is a recent movie called, “God’s Not Dead 2″ that makes the point of God’s continued presence! Our first key verse states that the Lord is constantly communicating with us. He wants us to listen! Amos feels compelled to “Prophesy” (speak out what he has had revealed to him), “The Lord God has spoken, who can but prophesy!” (3:8b).

Our second key verse is not only stating the fact of God’s creation, but it shows that Amos is worshipping God for Who He is! The exercise of prophesying is not just foretelling but “forthtelling,” speaking of God’s greatness as we worship Him. Both chapters, Amos 3 & 4, begin with the word, “Hear!” Are we listening carefully, and are we, for example, doing the opposite to Amos 4:1? Are we doing our best to lift up the poor and needy? God cares intensely! During the entirety of these blogs we have paid attention to “repetition”…God’s way of making His point strongly. There are five repetitions of the words, “Yet you have not returned to Me, says the LORD!!!” This reveals the heart of God longing for closeness with His people.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I return to YOU! I run into Your open arms as Your wayward child! I pray that I will continually remain 24/7 in Your loving, strong embrace, hearing Your voice as I read Your Word, and doing that which pleases You. I pray this through the Person Who always pleased You, Father, Your Son and my Saviour, Jesus! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

[Note: this blog post was originally written by David on April 5, 2016]

I’m here in Red Deer, Alberta, just now. I’m scheduled to speak at the annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast this morning. Ever since I passed the two-year life expectancy mark (the doctor diagnosed me with a terminal illness, MDS acute leukaemia, in March of 2012). I’ve been somewhat frustrated, because I don’t have a clear understanding of the reason why God has extended my life. I’ve read again the story of Hezekiah, whose life was extended 15 years by God and by the application of a poultice over the area infected. During those extra years he did something really stupid which resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem. I ask for the prayers of all my blog family!

Yours for finishing well,

David

8 thoughts on “Sunday, April 5, 2020

  1. Great photo, caption and history. Oh Lord God, You have formed the mountains, created the wind, and declared Your thought through Your Living Word. You have saved and forgiven us through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Messiah. Whom have we in heaven but You? For there is none on earth besides You, Lord. Our hearts and our flesh may fail. But God is the strength of our hearts and our portions, forever. Amen. God’s blessings of protection and peace upon you, fellow saints.

    If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
    1 Corinthians 13:2 NIV

    God Who Moves The Mountains (lyrics) Corey Voss
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1aw9h-qA8o

  2. Thank You, Father God, for Your great love. It’s true that You reveal the Truth even before these things come to pass. You sent Your prophets to tell about Your coming and the sacrifice You made, even before it happened. You also sent Your prophets to tell us about what would happen in the end times. Help all Your people to be strong in faith, in hope, and in love, and help us to be involved in Your rescue mission to this world.
    Thank You for giving Your all, Lord Jesus, for rebellious and sinful people like us. Draw many to Yourself even today. Please hear and answer the prayers of Your people, Lord. Show Yourself mighty to save. Thank You, Father, with all our hearts, in Jesus’s great name, amen

  3. Amen Rob! Listened to Dr. Michael Youssef message called “A Biblical Response to the Current Crisis”- Joel. What a relevant message and echoes what we have been saying on here. Trust you can all access it. He mentioned Hosea as well and the prophet Amos has some pertinent words to say as well. Interesting that we should be reading these books at this time thanks to David and Son Ron to keep them going.

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