Amos 5:7-13.
There are those who turn justice into bitterness
and cast righteousness to the ground.
8 He who made the Pleiades and Orion,
who turns midnight into dawn
and darkens day into night,
who calls for the waters of the sea
and pours them out over the face of the land—
the Lord is his name.
9 With a blinding flash he destroys the stronghold
and brings the fortified city to ruin.
10 There are those who hate the one who upholds justice in court
and detest the one who tells the truth.
11 You levy a straw tax on the poor
and impose a tax on their grain.
Therefore, though you have built stone mansions,
you will not live in them;
though you have planted lush vineyards,
you will not drink their wine.
12 For I know how many are your offenses
and how great your sins.
There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes
and deprive the poor of justice in the courts.
13 Therefore the prudent keep quiet in such times,
for the times are evil.
Strong words from the living Lord to His people, challenging them on the way they treat the poor and needy, on the way they view justice. The very things that matter to God, His people trample on. We need to ask honest questions of ourselves. Do we care about justice enough to speak up for it? Do we care enough to act righteously for the sake of others even if we don’t gain? Do we respect those who administer justice in court (trusting that they are)? Do we consider the poor in the chain supply in the bargain you bought at the shops, is it only our budget that counts? Where do we put our security/confidence? Let us not forget that the One who is creator of all, of constellations and time sees our heart and actions. He longs for us to turn to Him and pursue righteousness and mercy, to walk humbly and seek justice, to care for the poor and needy. We cannot whitewash these actions in our lives as God sees into our hearts, He sees our online actions, He knows us. Let us turn to Him and ask His Spirit to help and guide us in our actions and choices.
Father as we lift up Your name may be humble our hearts and not turn a blind eye to our thoughts, our actions and choices. May our words of praise be lived out realities in our days, in our families, communities and churches. In Jesus name we pray
Joshua's Tree Rooted 