March 7, 2025

Some time ago, I asked God to fill in the gaps in my understanding, and of course, He has been faithful in answering me. One such thing is about the vine and the branches; he is the vine, and we are the branches. 

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. John 15:5-6

It seems simple enough to comprehend, but He added another layer showing its depth. In saying this, Jesus knew the people following him would get the comparison because Ezekiel mentions it in his prophecy to Judah. Ezekiel may have been thinking about how beautiful Jerusalem was when God gave him a word about its destruction and compared it to a useless vine being set on fire. We’ve all experienced a noxious weed with a vine stretching beyond our reach, and Judah and Jerusalem were unfruitful weeds that had turned their back on God. However, Jesus calls us the branches of his vine, and because we belong to him and continue to produce fruit, we can avoid being trimmed off and thrown into the fire. The added layer of understanding: Our fruitful branch will twine around the enemy and choke out his temptations, continue to grow, produce fruit, and expand, making other branches that also produce fruit. The fire will not consume us because we are attached to Jesus. It’s a simple concept with added layers showing how thoughtful our Father is.

God’s word to Jerusalem:

Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned? Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Ezekiel 15:5-6

March 6, 2025

During the time that Ezekiel was captive in Babylon, and before all of Jerusalem was conquered, some elders came from Jerusalem to enquire of Ezekiel and get a word of prophecy from him. It seems they had come to test him to see if his prophecy matched Jeremiah’s.  There was something fishy about them, and Ezekiel knew something was amiss. Then, his instincts were right because God gave him a word and said to tell them that He knew they had idols in their hearts, though they pretended to believe in Him, and because they tried to trip up a prophet, He would answer them according to their multitude of idols. And then God told them this:

Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 14:14

Daniel was still alive at this point in the scriptures and must have been well known, even during this time. What’s also notable is that most of us already understand that they cannot bring anyone with them and that each person is responsible for their own salvation. Then God gave them the bad news about His judgments against Judah of sword, famine, beast, and pest, which would match Jeremiah’s prophecy.

Though the world is in a shambles, it is a mess that God uses to bring people back under His care, but the idols they’ve built in their hearts must go! What might be blocking your blessings? I’m not talking about material things but genuine blessings. Search your heart for anything that you’ve allowed that might hurt God. Repent and come back to Him. 

March 5, 2025

When Nebuchadnezzar conquered Judah and Israel, the inhabitants were carried away at different times. Ezekiel lived in Babylon during his visions and when God spoke to him. During this point in his prophecy, Zedekiah was installed as king, which gave the captives hope that he would come to save them because they remembered back to Jeremiah’s prophecy about him coming to Babylon. They thought he would come to conquer Nebuchadnezzar and rescue them. God needed to clarify his word to Ezekiel so the people would understand they were there for the long haul. So God told him to gather his belongings like he was moving, cover his face so he couldn’t see the ground, make it look like he was moving secretly, and dig a hole in the wall to go out that way. God told him to tell them there would be a prince among them, pointing to King Zedekiah. If you remember, in Jeremiah, he tells of Zedekiah being carried off as a captive and then having his eyes plucked out, meaning he couldn’t see where he was going. Ezekiel had to act out his prophecy because the people were too blind to see the truth, so acting it out would help their dull brains understand. 

We are no different; there are so many signs before our eyes telling us where the world is going, but we cannot see them because our brains are so dulled by our unbelief, environmental issues, possible food contamination, and pharmaceuticals. All these factors can lead our minds only to be able to see what is right before us but not to understand the truth about what is happening in general. Has someone cast a spell and made the worldwide population fall asleep? The awakening will be rude! Stay connected to the Father; He will protect you in His mighty hands. He is our hope for brighter days.

And the prince that is among them shall bear upon his shoulder in the twilight, and shall go forth: they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby: he shall cover his face, that he see not the ground with his eyes. Ezekiel 12:12

March 4, 2025

We must remember that God's words are to help save us from disaster, not to bring depression, but to encourage us to be righteous. I am overjoyed to find Jesus in Ezekiel 9. He was counted with the angels sent to destroy Jerusalem, but he was there to mark the foreheads of the righteous so they wouldn't be slain. He was clothed in linen and carried an inkhorn as the writers did during Ezekiel's time; he was commissioned to write the names to be saved from destruction in the Book of Life during the cleansing of Jerusalem. Much like the blood over the doorpost in Egypt, we are marked on the forehead for salvation in Jesus. One of those saved during that time was Jeremiah. "Baruch and Ebed-Melech were secured, and, it is likely, others of Jeremiah's friends, for his sake." Matthew Henry. It makes so much more sense why Jeremiah was so sad and crying all the time; his heart broke for the sinners who were being destroyed or left for starvation. These words give us hope that during tribulation in the last days, if we are here, God will have mercy on us and not be slain by His wrath. That doesn't mean we will not die by other means, but it won't be because of God's fury. 

And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Ezekiel 9:4-5

March 3, 2025

I searched everywhere for words of encouragement in Ezekiel 7, but there are none. God had given the children of Israel multiple warnings from the prophets, and now Ezekiel is prophesying destruction. The only warning this time was to prepare for the wrath! I hoped to candy coat it like the false prophets, but when it’s God’s word, I dare not write anything but the truth. So, I will share my heart with you; if you don’t want God’s discipline to affect you and everyone else, pray for our country, and if there is anything wicked in you, repent and ask forgiveness. Though we are not Israel, we are a Christian nation, so God expects more from us than nations that worship idols and false deities. We’ve allowed into our country unbelievers, and it seems that their presence has had a substantial impact on us because they brought with them the demons associated with their cultish religion. However, we can’t always blame someone else for disobedience, so we need to look within and ensure there is nothing detestable in us, and maybe He will relent from giving us what we deserve in the form of His wrath. Pray before it’s too late and God sends His wrath upon us as He did Israel and Judah. 

There is good news: we have Jesus! If we are caught in the crossfire of God’s destruction, we can count on Jesus standing up from his throne and welcoming us into heaven. I’m okay with that; how about you? 

An end is come, the end is come: it watcheth for thee; behold, it is come. Ezekiel 7:6

March 2, 2025

The Lord God will hold his children accountable if they stray from Him to worship fake idols or so-called deities. The timeline for Ezekiel's next prophecy is thought to be after he had finished the 430 days of demonstration of God's plan. God gave him another prophecy concerning Israel and Judah about the worship of idols, the high places, and altars they rebuilt after Josiah had destroyed them. God vowed to cut down their idols once again and scatter the people's carcasses at the base of their altars.  We are the temple of the Holy Spirit of God, so when we introduce anything that replaces God in our hearts and minds, we can expect consequences. He is a jealous God! I know we have Jesus, and he covers our sins, but how do you think he feels about us worshipping another god? I can assure you that he will come into your temple with a whip to break down the altars to such gods. Do you want that to happen? If not, it may be a good idea to rid yourself of those idols and repent. Consider that an idol is something or someone you give a higher importance than God. Search your heart, and if you don't see it, ask God to show it to you. If you are sincere about wanting a cleansing of the filth of an idol, He will make it obvious so you see where you went wrong so you can ask forgiveness. God gives us grace and is very merciful, especially if we are sincere. 

Then shall ye know that I am the LORD, when their slain men shall be among their idols round about their altars, upon every high hill, in all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the place where they did offer sweet savour to all their idols. Ezekiel 6:13

And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. John 2:15-16

March 1, 2025

God told Ezekiel that if he didn’t warn the people of their sins, their blood would be on his hands. Then God closed his mouth so he couldn’t speak, but when He decided it was time, He would open his mouth. Rather than speak his prophetic warning, he was required to act it out because words didn’t seem to affect people’s behavior, so he had to treat them like children and give them pictures. God told Ezekiel to set up a diorama showing a siege against them, gather less than ideal grain for bread to last for the entire time, and cook it over dung. This act would show them that they would eat defiled bread among the Gentiles, which would be measured so they couldn’t consume too much. He was to lay on his side for 390 days for the sins of Israel and 40 days for the sins of Judah; this represented how long they would be under siege. Ezekiel was acting so he could get up and move about while the people weren’t there to see him. Understanding this may be hard for us because times are different, but in that day and time, it would have penetrated their hearts if they weren’t hardened against God. 

The point for us is to use whatever means necessary to get our message across to the sinful people around us; God will show us how. Though we may not be prophets like Ezekiel, we have been given a commission by Jesus to tell the world about him. Not doing so could put their blood on our hands. If they don’t turn, that’s their problem, but your hands will be clean if you warn them of their coming doom. 

When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Ezekiel 3:18-19

Lie thou also upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it: according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon it thou shalt bear their iniquity. Ezekiel 4:4

February 28, 2025

Ezekiel was sent to the children of Israel during their captivity in Babylon. God sent them there because of their rebellion against Him. Even though Ezekiel was a priest before the captivity, God called him to be His prophet and to take His message to them. We can see from the stories in Ezekiel and Daniel that though God loved these two prophets, they were still sent to Babylon as captives along with the defiant children. God needed them as messengers for Him. He loved Israel and didn't want them to forget about their heritage, but also wanted them to submit to Him and love Him. The scriptures tell us that the Holy Spirit entered Ezekiel, and he heard God speak. God told him not to be afraid of the people as obstinate as they were. Then he saw a hand, and it rolled out a scroll in front of him. God told him to eat it. This portion of God's word clearly indicates His desire for us to consume His scriptures and feed our spirit with His words. How else are we going to know how He wants us to behave? 

Jesus rolls out the scripture before us every day. You probably have an app on your phone or a dusty Bible in your home, and he calls us all to witness to others to help bring them into submission to the Lord, the equivalent of eating the scroll. Feed your spirit every day by consuming God's word, and He will use you in unimaginable ways. I pray that you see Him working in your life and the lives of others as confirmation of your calling.

But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee. And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; Ezekiel 2:8-9

February 27, 2025

Ezekiel was in captivity in Babylon by the river Chebar. He had an incredible vision of God's spirit surrounded by the image of angels. He does his best to describe what he saw, but I cannot picture it. God may have given him this vision as a precursor to his calling to be His prophet to the captive Israelites in Babylon. It was probably a shocking scene that would get his attention and let him know that what he was about to see and hear was coming from the Almighty God. 

God speaks to us in different ways; He knows us well, so He communicates in ways he knows we will hear Him. In my case, it started with simple observations of birds, understanding what their colors and mannerisms conveyed. He made use of them so that I would understand what He meant when He presented them to me. For instance, in my understanding of God's voice, the American Egret, a big white bird, represents purity and holiness; the owl, who is a night predator, represents demonic activity; the Roseate Spoonbill, a beautiful pink bird, is a blessing because I love seeing them. He will likely use something you enjoy or can relate to when He speaks to you. Ultimately, God speaks through the Bible; however, sometimes, He reaches out to us in ways that suit our understanding. 

The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him. Ezekiel 1:3

February 26, 2025

Everything Jeremiah told King Zedekiah was coming true; the fall of Jerusalem was at hand. Nebuchadnezzar and his army besieged the city, and his generals came in and sat at the middle gate. Zedekiah took off but was caught before he got to Jericho. The soldiers took him to Nebuchadnezzar, where he had his sons and nobles killed, then gouged his eyes out, put him in chains, and carried him off to Babylon. The Chaldeans burned down the palace and the homes of the people, then knocked down the walls. However, Nebuchadnezzar had a soft spot in his heart for Jeremiah, had his people treat him well, and let him out of prison. He had probably heard Jeremiah's warnings from God to Zedekiah about his invasion and conquering of Jerusalem. Before Nebuchadnezzar's conquest, Jeremiah got word from God to tell Zedekiah's servant, Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, that the invasion wouldn't harm him and God would deliver him out of the hands of men because he helped Jeremiah and listened to the Lord more than His own people.

Though we may go through tough times, we can see from this story that because we love Jesus and do our best to obey God, He will honor us by protecting us from His wrath, just as he did Jeremiah and Edebmelech. 

Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying, Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee. Jeremiah 39:11-12

February 25, 2025

God gave many warnings to the king and princes of Jerusalem, but they were met with indignation, especially from the princes. They were angry that Jeremiah brought nothing but bad news. In their anger, they lowered Jeremiah into a cistern that had no water but was muddy, and he sank in the mud. The Bible doesn't specify how long Jeremiah was there, but it was long enough that he was in danger of starvation. Fortunately for him, an Ethiopian servant, Ebedmelech, in the king's house got word of the evil done to Jeremiah by being put in the cistern and asked King Zedekiah if they could get him out before he died. The king commanded Ebedmelech to take thirty men with him to get him out. Ebedmelech took soft rags and cords to lift Jeremiah out of the pit gently. 

King Zedekiah then had Jeremiah brought to him to get a word from God. Jeremiah was careful about what he said, fearing retribution because there were only warnings and bad news for all of them. Zedekiah promised not to kill him, so Jeremiah told him to turn himself over to the king of Babylon, or the Chaldeans would burn the city. Zedekiah had no intention of doing what God told him through Jeremiah. 

What is the point of listening to preaching or reading the Bible if you don't plan on following the advice given? Do you get credit for showing up to church or reading the Bible? No! Don't waste your time inquiring of God if you don't plan to do what He says. We must be obedient to God so it fares well for us.

So Jeremiah abode in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken: and he was therewhen Jerusalem was taken. Jeremiah 38:28

February 24, 2025

God told Jeremiah to gather the older people and older priests at the east gate, the valley of the son of Hinnom, and to take a clay bottle with him. He told the people that he was about to bring evil upon this place because they were burning incense to other gods, and they were burning their sons as an offering to Baal, which was something He had never even considered requiring them to do. They had rejected the laws of God but worshipped their fake gods more than the one true God. He told them that the valley of the son of Hinton would soon be called the valley of slaughter because many would be scattered there and left for the birds and animals to devour their carcasses. He then broke the bottle as an active prophecy to them that there would be no putting the country back together unless God did it.

Many countries in the world, but especially the United States and Europe, are guilty of heinous crimes against children, whether it is abortion or trafficking for the pleasure of sick adults. We are waiting on God’s retribution and are unsure how long He will allow it to continue. Hopefully, the madness will stop before God decides to pour his wrath upon us. 

Then shalt thou break the bottle in the sight of the men that go with thee, And shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again: and they shall bury them in Tophet, till there be no place to bury. Jeremiah 19:10-11

February 23, 2025

God told Jeremiah to stop praying for the people, he didn’t give up and poured out his heart on their behalf. Even though their sin was great, he still hoped that God would relent and turn His wrath away from them. The people were no longer sending their servants for water; they may have had to let them go because they couldn’t maintain their health because of the famine and drought. Now, they are teaching their children to fetch the water, but there was none to get. The ground was so dry that the plowmen were ashamed because plows wouldn’t penetrate that soil. 

This story almost reads like a parable. Much like trying to share the gospel with an atheist or someone whose mind has been twisted by the enemy, the ground was dry and unable to receive the truth and understand it. Hard soil will reject water given it and not soak in. If you’ve ever tried wetting soil that had been dry for a long time, you understand what happens; it stays right on the surface unless you keep pouring water over it, and it can take a while for it to start soaking in. Much like Jeremiah praying for the people who seem to be a lost cause with their idol worship, don’t give up on the family and friends you are trying to get to trust in Jesus; keep pouring on the water, and it may eventually soak in. 

Thus saith the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins. Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good. Jeremiah 14:10-11

February 22, 2025

When trouble abounds, pray. Pour your heart out to God. Though the deliverance from your problems may seem far away, there is always something to be thankful for. Find rest knowing that our time on earth is short, but eternity with Jesus is waiting for us; he is our comfort during a trying time. Remember that although Lamentations is a sorrowful and heartbreaking book, God gave many opportunities for His people to repent and return to Him. If we make it our goal to seek Him daily, worshipping and praising Him with a repentant heart, we will avoid the correction of our loving Father. So, the moment you start seeing trouble, assess your life and see if any sins have gone unconfessed, areas where you may have turned away from God in disobedience, or if any people were harmed by your actions or inactions, intentionally or unintentionally. Talk to God, have Him assess your heart, and reveal where you are lacking. 

One sorrow expressed by Jeremiah was that the temple was in ruins. It was the most heartbreaking part of their calamities, even more so than any other complaint. Now, as opposed to then, the temple resides within us, so don’t allow it to go into ruins; maintain it through prayer, praise, and worship. 

Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation. Lamentations 5:19

February 21, 2025

If you want to know what it might be like to go through the tribulation, you may want to read Lamentations. Proceed with caution and dare not go there if you are depressed. Even though I’ve read through the Bible many times, I’ve never gone through it slowly and methodically; I’m uncovering things I didn’t know were there. Jeremiah speaks of disturbing and disgusting things that dignified humans don’t even talk about today. Israel was taken captive, but the elderly and the priest were left there to starve. He paints a picture, with words, of a gruesome scene that none of us want to experience. If we weren’t hidden in Jesus, we might have experienced the same wrath of God that Israel went through during this time in history. The best advice I can give you is to repent of your sins daily, seek God’s forgiveness, and ask Him to help you overcome transgressions that break His heart. You can think of sinful things without realizing it. For that reason, we must take every thought captive, or we could end up being taken captive by our enemies, whether physically or mentally. God wanted us to know that He doesn’t play games, and we should take Him seriously. The following verses are the most hopeful that I’ve found in this book.

It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. Lamentations 3:22-24

February 20, 2025

Israel's repentance and return to the Almighty living God were not to be found, and therefore, they would suffer the consequences of their actions or inactions. They were caught up in Baal and idol worship and never looked back at all the things God had done for them. However, it isn't just Israel who is guilty of rejecting God; as Christians, when we chase after the mighty dollar with no regard for the lives of others, we are as guilty as biblical Israel. When will we all learn that all our sustenance comes from God? Anything and everything you have comes from God; you have done nothing on your own. He presses you along, showing you the way, encouraging you to prosper for His and the Church's benefit. If we would only recognize His involvement in our lives and acknowledge Him for the morsels we get, He would continue to help usher us along. Pressing forward without accepting God and His favor leads to a dead end, and no good comes from it. Regardless of our iniquities, there is good news! Though we are wretched, God's heart is toward us and gave us His son, Jesus, as a propitiation for our sins. Jesus was sacrificed and victorious over death, and now, because he loves us, we no longer have to fear death because the blood of the Lamb overcame it, and our sins are forgiven. Praise God for His amazing love.

I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes. Hosea 13:14

February 19, 2025

I’m finding the study of Hosea daunting. However, there is also a sweet nugget of information that leads me to believe, though I’m not sure if Hosea knew, that the first few verses of chapter 6 allude to Jesus’s time in the grave and his resurrection. It also could have been a known saying throughout Judah and Israel, possibly explaining why they tried to cover up the period of Jesus’s death and resurrection. 

Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Hosea 6:1-2

Hosea, or whoever is speaking in the first few verses, mentions how soothing it would be for God to heal them, much like the spring and fall rains. However, in this instance, some may have wanted to turn back to the Lord, at least in words, but they didn’t because God pointed out their continued iniquities. 

But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me. Hosea 6:7

Many people want to turn to the Lord, but the things of the flesh keep drawing them back to sinful behavior and keeping them from fully turning their hearts over to the Lord. We plant the seeds, but the Holy Spirit draws them to the Lord, but they must be able to see their need for him. It seems that Judah and Israel wanted God’s blessing but didn’t want to turn from their evil ways. God will not relent in his punishment until there is total submission to His will, which is a good lesson for all of us to remember.

February 18, 2025

The Book of Hosea is challenging to understand. God gave instructions to Hosea to marry a harlot and have children with her. I've always thought Gomer was a loose woman with many husbands, but according to Matthew Henry, she was probably not exactly as we thought; otherwise, they would have stoned her, and it would have dishonored Hosea to marry a whore, but that's what it says. However, she may have been a big flirt going after many men. This idea makes much more sense, even though it doesn't read that way in the Bible. Hosea was a prophet from his youth, and God gave him a mandate to marry Gomer as an example to Israel and Judah. Hosea was to live out this physical prophecy to show Israel and Judah what was coming.

Hosea gave his children prophetical names. His first son's name was Jezreel, which means seed of God, but also scattered seed of God. The royal family lived in Jezreel, and naming his son Jezreel foretold the royal family's fall. Then Gomer conceived a daughter, and Hosea named her Loruhamah, meaning God will not have mercy upon the house of Israel, but I will utterly take them away. However, God said He would have mercy on Judah. Then Gomer had another son, and Hosea named him Loammi, meaning God was rejecting them and would no longer be His people, and He would not be their God. This is the point where Hosea predicts the Gentiles were to be brought in as God's children and would also be considered sons of God. It makes sense that when Jesus came and brought in the Gentiles, we would be numbered with the kingdom of Judah. After the captivity in Babylon, the kingdom of Israel would return and join Judah. Now, the question is: Why is the current country of Israel called Israel instead of Judah? Hmm.

Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel. Hosea 1:11

February 17, 2025

Amos was relentless in getting God's message to the people of Israel. When God gives you a message to share, if you are disobedient and don't share it, He will use someone else, and they will get the credit and honor from God. He warned that their worship of idols and their poor treatment of the less fortunate would lead them into Assyrian captivity; he would put them in the land that only worships idols. His repeated message was to seek God and live, yet they were so obstinate that they didn't listen. Just like the conservatives of our day, the ones who knew the truth kept silent because they knew it wouldn't do any good to speak up, and they would receive punishment for being outspoken. Amos complained that they hated him, rebuked him in the gate, and abhorred him, who spoke the truth. 

Here is a truth that we all need to hear:

Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD isdarkness, and not light. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it? Amos 5:18-20

Many of us are guilty of desiring the Lord’s return, and yes, we are excited to leave this world for the kingdom of heaven. Still, the devastation that accompanies his return is going to be awful, and many people we know will be tormented by the mighty hand of God. Rather than desire Jesus’s return, we should be working to introduce him to the lost so they can escape the flames of hell.

But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. Amos 5:24

February 16, 2025

Many of us can understand the excitement over seeing the government soon face the repercussions of their actions and getting rich off the backs of the people. The sad part is that it’s coming from our very own people! Imagine being devastated by other countries who set their actions to physically destroy God’s children, much like they did back in the days of the kings of Israel. We can be sure that God will avenge His people and take out our enemies. Amos was one of those He sent with the warning. Amos was a herdsman that God used to convey His message. He was not born a prophet or a prophet’s son, but God sent a word through him to give fair warning of the recompense coming down on the nations who were oppressing God’s people. If there is one thing I have learned from studying God’s Word, it’s that He will not tolerate harm to His people for very long and will eventually step in and avenge them. However, don’t think for a minute that He will accept our oppression of others either; we will also receive punishment for harming others, but it’s worse for those who come after us. If you are facing a challenging time, know that whoever is causing your pain will be dealt with by God Almighty. In the meantime, strengthen your resolve and know that you will be victorious in the end!

But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind: And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith the LORD. Amos 1:14-15