Seeking God

This is what the Lord says to the house of Israel: "Seek (come to) Me (the LORD God) and live; . . . . Seek (come to) the LORD and live . . . . Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say He is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the LORD God Almighty will have mercy (be gracious) . . . . But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! Amos 5:4-24 (NIV). 

In this chapter, the Prophet Amos mourns for Israel because they believed that their wealth and religious ritual made them secure. The Prophet Amos tells Israel the one sure cure for a world that is sick and dying in sin — "Seek (come to) the LORD and live." Sin destroys, but true happiness and security come only in God.  Moreover, this Scripture passages teaches that any society that mistreats the poor, helpless, and needy will be destroyed by God’s judgment. God wants true justice to flow like a vast river (Amos 5:24). Those who oppose justice will be swept away. 

Even more, this Scripture passage teaches that God dislikes false and insincere worship by people who simply go through the motions.  Instead, God wants our sincere and wholehearted love for Him (Deuteronomy 4:29-30; Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Jeremiah 29:13; Matthew 22:34-40) that yields obedience (1 Samuel 15:22-23; John 14:15).  True repentance and faith can repair a damaged life and avoid God’s judgment made by sin.  However, God desires our authentic and continual loyalty, devotion, and faithfulness to Him as the One True God (Amos 4:4; Amos 5:25; Habakkuk 2:4).  So, let everyone seek the LORD God with all our hearts and souls and live!