Trust the Son
Have you ever seen two people that needed to be on the same page about something, but just weren’t? Maybe it was your parents, your boss and your boss’ boss, or two friends. You had a question, so you asked one person and got one answer, but then you got a completely different answer from the other. How confusing is that?
That is something that never happens with God and His Son, Jesus.
John 3:34-35 (NIV) tells us, "For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands." These verses show us how special Jesus is to God and how much power and love God has given Him.
Jesus speaks the words of God, knows the will of God, and has the power of God. They are always on the same page.
Because Jesus speaks the words of God, we can trust that everything He says is true and reflects who God is accurately.
Because Jesus has the power of God, we can believe that what He says will come to pass.
God loves Jesus. God speaks through Jesus. This means we can trust Jesus completely. He has all the power and authority and is speaking Truth because what He speaks is directly from God.
In our daily lives, we often face moments of uncertainty and darkness. Sometimes our lives are made confusing or difficult by arguments or disagreements. No matter what, we know that God and Jesus are one. Jesus was a perfect example of the heart of God, so all His love and sacrifice teaches us even more about who God is.
So, let's use this message in our lives. Let’s trust Jesus fully because He speaks for God and has unlimited power. Let’s also try to be like Jesus, speaking God’s words and trusting in His power.
Reordering Our Priorities
The northern tribes of Israel in Amos' time seemed like they were doing all the right things. They offered sacrifices to God and were exact in their religious observations. And yet, the book of Amos is written to them as a warning—a warning that destruction that would befall them if they refused to change?
Why?
Because they had neglected the true heart of loving and worshiping God.
While they were doing many of the "right" things, it's what they weren't doing that God wanted to address. They failed to take care of the poor and needy. They turned their eyes away from injustice. Many had turned to idols for help and prayer.
Through Amos, God told the people of Israel that it is just as important to be righteous inwardly as it is outwardly. We cannot say we love God and others when we fail to help people who are within our power to help.
Just as James 1:27 tells us, true religion includes helping orphans, widows, and those who are in distress. James goes on to write ...