Amos (Part 1)

When Amos speaks of God’s judgment on the nations (Israel and her neighbors), there is a common thread:  God is especially furious for the way these nations have treated God’s precious people.  God cares about how we treat Him, but He also cares deeply for the way we treat our fellow man.  Read the first chapter and see that this is so.  Read Matthew 22:34-40 to see how central this is to God’s message to us.

 

Amos speaks often of the neglect of the poor (Amos 2:7; 4:1; 5:11-12; 8:4-6, et al).  What are we to do about these admonitions?

 

As believers we look forward to Jesus coming back – to heaven!  Amos tells these people that they should not be looking forward to “the Day of the Lord, for they were unprepared to meet God (see Amos 5:18-24).  How does this impact you as you read it?

 

God’s intention is that His people reflect His holy and merciful character to their unbelieving neighbors.  God’s people should live such that they attract people to God.  In Amos’ day the people of God were living just like their neighbors – perhaps worse.   Yet they thought themselves superior and immune to the judgment of God.  Think long and hard about this.  How do God’s people today (you and me) do the same?  What should be our response?

 

There are many who are truly following after God.  They are not frustrating God, they are bringing Him joy.  Name some of the people you know who are following God closely and do tow things: (1.) let them know that you see God’s ways reflected in their lives, and (2.) seek to emulate their lives.