Post by Woody Williams on Jul 17, 2006 7:38:20 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- Amos 2:6-8, 13-16
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Thus says the Lord:
For three transgressions of Israel,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment;
because they sell the righteous for silver,
and the needy for a pair of sandals-
they who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth,
and push the afflicted out of the way;
father and son go in to the same girl,
so that my holy name is profaned;
they lay themselves down beside every altar
on garments taken in pledge;
and in the house of their God they drink
wine bought with fines they imposed.
So, I will press you down in your place,
just as a cart presses down
when it is full of sheaves.
Flight shall perish from the swift,
and the strong shall not retain their strength,
nor shall the mighty save their lives;
those who handle the bow shall not stand,
and those who are swift of foot shall not save themselves,
nor shall those who ride horses save their lives;
and those who are stout of heart among the mighty
shall flee away naked on that day,
says the Lord.
Devotional
----------
Power can have a corrupting influence, as does money, fame and other
signs of success. These human experiences feed the ego and inflate it
so that they consider themselves to be beyond the laws of others,
even God. Amos cries out against their injustices and unfaithfulness
to God, declaring that God is going to judge them. We all must be on
our guard so that our false self does not displace God in our lives.
Prayer
--------------
Help me to know myself and my weaknesses, Lord. Amen
----------
Thus says the Lord:
For three transgressions of Israel,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment;
because they sell the righteous for silver,
and the needy for a pair of sandals-
they who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth,
and push the afflicted out of the way;
father and son go in to the same girl,
so that my holy name is profaned;
they lay themselves down beside every altar
on garments taken in pledge;
and in the house of their God they drink
wine bought with fines they imposed.
So, I will press you down in your place,
just as a cart presses down
when it is full of sheaves.
Flight shall perish from the swift,
and the strong shall not retain their strength,
nor shall the mighty save their lives;
those who handle the bow shall not stand,
and those who are swift of foot shall not save themselves,
nor shall those who ride horses save their lives;
and those who are stout of heart among the mighty
shall flee away naked on that day,
says the Lord.
Devotional
----------
Power can have a corrupting influence, as does money, fame and other
signs of success. These human experiences feed the ego and inflate it
so that they consider themselves to be beyond the laws of others,
even God. Amos cries out against their injustices and unfaithfulness
to God, declaring that God is going to judge them. We all must be on
our guard so that our false self does not displace God in our lives.
Prayer
--------------
Help me to know myself and my weaknesses, Lord. Amen