Living in The Light

O. T. #2129  "Living in The Light"

Feb. 15, 2022

Amos 7-Part 5

LET IT GLOW

It seemed like a week of gray clouds that brought snow and cold. When the sun shone, it was a wonderful sight. Not only hope of warmer days with snow melting, but it just made me feel better, too. Not only is God our source of joy, but light. Go with me into  1 John 1:5-7. What do we find there?

• This is the message John heard from Jesus.
• God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. (verse 5)
• If we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness, they we are lying. We are not practicing the truth. (verse 6)
• But if we are living in the light of God, then we have fellowship with each other. (verse 7)
• The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.

In the Greek language, light means to shine or make manifest; luminousness (in the wildest application); darkness refers to dimness, obscurity, shadiness.

The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19)

Light's function is to reveal things as they truly are. Light exposes. If you want God's personal presence and activity in your life, you must be willing to allow His light to expose your sinful thoughts, attitudes, speech, and actions that are inconsistent with His character. (Tony Evans)

Others see the evidence that we are in fellowship with God by our walk, life, not our words only.

Are we willing to let God expose the sins in us? His light enables us to see our sin so we may repent. It is the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses us, then we are able to work in the light.

*An example of ultimate love is that of Jesus for you and me. Have a lovely day and know that you are loved!

 

LET IT GROW

Previously, we learned that Amos' vision of Jesus holding a plumb line while standing on a wall referred to a spiritual standard in which we know right from wrong. His Word provides this. When we follow God's laws, moral and spiritual, they make us free to live righteously.

Blackaby said that sin is choosing a standard other than God's law on which to base your life.

In the rest of this chapter, we see that Israel was living in darkness and not according to God's plumb line, thus it would be destroyed.

Amaziah, the priest in the sanctuary at Bethel, gave 3 indictments against Amos to King Jeroboam II:

1. Amos conspired against the king making personal attacks.
2. This attack took place in the midst of Israel so it was treasonous.
3. The peaceful land was unable to endure Amos' words, upsetting people.
4. The king would die by the sword.

The words of the priest were half-truths, thus lies. The people would be taken captive to another land, Assyria. Bethel was not a place of worshipping God, but where Israel worshipped pagan gods and idols. Amaziah was not a worthy messenger of God. What a conspiracy!

Are our words truthful? 

LET IT GO

May Your light shine upon us, in and through our heart.

Help us live in truth.

The light of the world is Jesus.