Just before the Day of the Lord’s Judgment, the prophet predicted times when “There are those who turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground. There are those who hate the one who upholds justice in court and detest the one who tells the truth.”With other descriptions, it seems like those times are now. 

He encourages us to “Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you.”

Although the times are evil, we maintain His cause in our lives, our jobs, our families. God is greater!

PRAYER: Father, we fear You and dread Your day of judgement. We will seek to do right and shun evil. We trust our lives to You in these days.

READING: Amos 4-7

Amos declared that God would do nothing without telling His servants, the prophets. God always has people who seek His face, His approval, who seek to be used by Him.

We all have His promise that if we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. It’s a very comforting feeling to know He is close to us as we navigate this life.

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, reveal Yourself to us. As we draw near to You in praise and prayer, use us to speak Your Word to those around us who need Your power in their lives.

READING: Amos 1-3

(Sorry I didn’t post yesterday. My home internet was down last night.)

A common theme among the Minor Prophets is repent and turn back to God. If you and I were God, we would not have His patience and long suffering. How can God endure the blatant rebellion and idolatry of His people? Answer: He is giving them time and space to get it right. He sends His messengers to them on a consistent basis with the goal of a restored relationship with them.

“Patient persistence pierces through indifference; gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses.” [Pr. 25:15]

PRAYER: Father, we are grateful for Your long-suffering and loving-kindness. We want to be like You when we deal with our children or subordinates.

READING: Hosea 11-14; Joel 1-3

The prophet declared that a farming yoke would be put on the tribe of Ephraim, the tribe of Judah would plow, and the tribe of Jacob would break up hard soil, all to prepare the ground for rain and crop growth. Then, the spiritual seed of rightousness was to be planted so that they could reap God’s merciful presence.

God is saying plant the good seed of spiritual lives that please God rather than making your investments in lives that appeal to your carnal, material-minded temporal desires.

Our life’s energy can be invested in eternally rewarding things, or fleeting pleasures that don’t last.

PRAYER: Father, we are grateful for the encouragement of scripture to focus our lives on things of heavenly, eternal value. We trust You for our future.

READING: Hosea 8-10

Hosea exposed God’s process of redemption.

“Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces, but he will heal us; He has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.” [Hosea 6:1,2]

Hmmmm. Who else was restored on the third day?

Our brokenness leads to redemption when we call upon the Lord.

PRAYER: Father, we trust Your eternal process of bringing us into a right relationship with You. We look to Christ Jesus as our model, forerunner, example. All we need is in You.

READING: Hosea 4-7

God’s messenger told Daniel, “ Those who are wise^[a] will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” [Dan. 12:3]

My experience has shown me that God can grant you marvelous opportunities to lead others to righteousness that only come to you through being faithful to the Lord’s calling in your life. The Psalmist said this is an honor that “no man takes unto himself.” Divine opportunities come to faithful people.

Be faithful to the Lord.

PRAYER: Father of faithfulness, work Your character into me. Shine upon and through me Your great love and power. In my life may others be attracted to Your Kingdom.

READING: Dan. 12, Hosea 1-3

The archangel Gabriel came to Daniel and declared, “As soon as you began to pray, a word went out.” God used the angel to communicate His message to Daniel, a message of insight and instruction.

We should pray with this confidence that God instantly hears us and sets into action His insights and His instructions, provided we comply with His Word and are in right relationship with Him.

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” [1 Jn. 5:14]

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for the assurance that whatever we ask in faith, You hear and begin moving accordingly. We pray, Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done, here in earth as it is in Heaven.

READING: Dan. 9-11

Daniel had staggering visions and dreams of the future. By his own confession, he did not understand them, nor do most of us. They do give the believer assurance that God knows and controls the future, and that He cares enough about His people to give them glimpses of what’s to come.

Notable is a phrase in Daniel 8 that describes the rise of a fierce king who displays power that’s not his own. He has the gall to take a stand against the prince of Princes (Jesus?) but is destroyed by power that’s not human.

Jesus said, “In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer … I have overcome the world.” Jn. 16:33

PRAYER: Lord, we find our refuge and comfort in You. You are a Gentle Shepherd, but also the Captain of Heaven’s Armies. You are the Mighty Warrior King.

READING: Dan. 7,8

At his banquet, the king of Babylon brought out Israel’s stolen golden goblets so all could gloat in their luxury and conquest. God’s finger appeared on the wall to mysteriously inform Belshazzar that his kingdom was doomed. Daniel courageously interpreted the handwriting with no apparent fear for his own life. He was rewarded.

On another occasion, his enemies tricked the king into making a law that prayers could not be made to anyone but the king. Again, Daniel displayed great courage and trust when he continued his prayer devotion to God. He valued his relationship with God over any penalty for being faithful to it. God saved him from death in the Lion’s den.

PRAYER: Father, let Your Spirit rise up within us to be bold witnesses for You. Regardless of society’s bent, we will give our full allegiance and trust to Your eternal kingdom. Preserve us, Lord.

READING: Daniel 5,6

When commanded to bow down to the golden image Nebuchadnezzar created, the three friends of Daniel refused. They were penalized by being thrown into a blazing furnace. God preserved them for their integrity … not bowing to anything but God.

Life is a series of choices; what will we bow down to, and what will we stand against. Integrity is revealed through these choices. God endorses our choice to resist sin by allowing Christ to be seen in our lives. Jesus was the 4th man seen in the fire by the king.

PRAYER: Father, preserve my life because I have walked in integrity. Don’t let my feet be kicked out from under me. Show Your mighty power through my life.

READING: Dan. 3,4