“But someone will say, ‘you have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18) and, “For as the body apart from the spiritis dead, so also faith apart from works is dead” (James 2:26).

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Amos 8:11

Turn to the Old Testament or Google Amos 8:11. This is the English Standard Version (ESV): 11 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord God, “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord."

 While the prophet Amos was speaking to the Israelites warning that God would surely cut off communication with them because of their lack of interest and even hatefulness towards His prophets, they would realize the heartbreaking loss of God's words during their painful destruction and subsequent captivity. Yet Amos' words can also be read as a warning for our age. Many have turned from the Lord. Few attend church, study the Bible, or seek the words of Godly pastors, teachers, and Christians. Instead, many rely on political correctness, their own ideas of what is right and wrong, and what is trending. Sadly, people without God are without hope, yet they don't know this. They rely on their own strength and understanding. If ever there was a time to reach out to the lost it is now.

 Hebrews 11:6 English Standard Version (ESV): 6 "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."