What ripe fruit did you picture in the basket Amos saw? I pictured mangos. Our neighbor has as a gigantic mango tree, and there is no way anyone can get to the fruit near the top (without a crane). Eventually, the ground is covered with those forgotten ripe fruit. We’re in the season now where you have to watch where you walk in their yard; it’s like a mine field of fallen fruit.
What I loved about Amos’ vision is that he and God had a conversation about it. God wanted to make sure Amos understood the significance he was meant to take away. Even though the vision was telling of a very unpleasant outcome, the mere fact that Amos communicated with God must have been an exquisite experience. Can you just imagine what that would be like?
God sees all our sins. He wants the people to know there is no hiding from God. We see details about people’s motivations and how dishonesty and selfishness are rampant. We might even recognize some of the same sins Amos calls out here.
We’ve all known how the poor can be taken advantage of, how people can be cheated out of things that are rightfully theirs, and how people rush through the Sabbath, if they take it at all! Ouch! That hit close to home for me. I’ve gotten so much better of Sabbath rest as I’ve gotten older.
God says he will not forget. Did these passages make you think about your own worship and time with God? Are you in a rush to get back to work or some other activity rather than stay connected to God?
Amos continues to warn the people of what is coming. God is even going to withdraw his presence, the word of God, from them during their time of punishment. They are going to feel like orphans, alone and afraid. I don’t know about you, but when things are hard, I lean in to God’s love and mercy even more. I can’t imagine what those times would be like without God.
But isn’t that exactly what it’s like for people who don’t know God? They live their lives in a darkness they can’t explain, feeling like something is missing. Have you ever experienced a time like that where you felt empty inside? Isn’t it so much better to be filled with the Holy Spirit’s assurance of God’s love for you and a presence of peace that surpasses all understanding? How would you describe what it feels like to belong to God and have his peace and love filling your empty places?
Many people still look for answers to life’s problems everywhere BUT God’s word. Why is that? There is a huge movement toward “revised” religion and “spirituality” that has absolutely nothing to do with Jesus’ blood and righteousness. Are people today that much different from the Israelites who were unconcerned with God’s word of warning? Does God’s judgment sound like good news or bad news to you?
Are you a ripe fruit ready for God’s judgment? Or are you a ripe fruit ready to be chosen for service to nourish the body of Christ?
Let’s pray. Use me, God, to help people find you so they can embrace your truth and be saved. My heart breaks for those lost in this world. I pray, too, for those faithful ones who have strayed off course without even realizing it. Help banish the lies that are attracting so many people away from you. Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.
