Life Lessons From Last Year

O. T. #2099  "Life Lessons From Last Year"

January 3, 2022

Amos 1-Part 5

LET IT GLOW

Happy New Year everyone! Wow, don't they seem to be flying by! So what have you learned through experiences last year? I hope we all finished the year well. Were you touched by the grace, joy, and love of Jesus in your life? The race is not over, friend, therefore, we still need the touch of the Master's hand on our life.

Still looking at Psalm 135, we realized how God is good and great and above all. Verse 6 says, Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did He in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.

It correlates with Psalm 115:3, Our God is in the heavens: He  hath done whatsoever He hath pleased.

God is not a finite idol, but a limitless, transcendent God with the sovereign power to accomplish His will. (Tony Evans)

Dare I say that most of the time we don't understand why does a particular thing? We lost two wonderful men and dear friends in the ministry past year. We hold onto our God, that it pleased Him to take them home. Their work on earth was done. If it had been up to us, we would have kept them here with us for 20 more years, but it was not up to us. We trust in a God who does not make mistakes, but has a plan for each of our lives. Are we living out that plan?

LET IT GROW

Amos moved from Damascus to the northeastern Philistine cities in the southwest, and now goes north on Phoenicia to its major city, Tyre (Tyrus).

Going back as far as David and Solomon, Israel had a warm relationship with the people there. It was a brotherly covenant, a friendly partnership that went deeper than politics. Although they differed in religious practices or political structures, they still treated one another like fellow human beings. (1Kings 5) (Wiersbe)

However, Tyre ended up guilty of the same sins as those Philistia cities. They sold Jewish captives to the Edomites as slaves. (verses 6-8) Selling friends as slaves! And God's people to boot. Amos warned them.

Nebuchadnezzar took the city after a 13 year siege. Then in 332 BC, Alexander the Great wiped Tyre off the face of the earth and left it a place for drying nets. Tyre was a warning to any who rebel against the will of God and mistreat men and women created in the image of God.

It seems to be going on in our day, right? Human trafficking, an awful thing. Teens and children being kidnapped for money and experiencing what should not be. Evil is present in our world.

How are we treating others? Are we keeping our word? Are we impartial in our treatment of others? Things to ponder.

 

LET IT GO

Thank You for lessons in life to learn and Your patience to do so, Father.

Keep us striving for the prize as we head heavenward in Christ Jesus.

May we serve You this year with all our being.