…prepare to meet your God! He is here… – Amos 4.12-13, CSB Israel was in rebellion, and yet God still waited. God’s punishment for their sins against him was coming after he had shown great patience toward them. Israel played the religious part, doing the outward things that seemed like… Read ⇢

…because they have rejected the instructions of the LORD and have not kept his statutes. The lies that their ancestors followed have led them astray. – Amos 2.4, CSB Living a lie comes from one’s deceptive desire to manipulate others for personal gain or to protect oneself from getting caught… Read ⇢

[Edom] stifled his compassion, his anger tore at him continually, and he harbored his rage incessantly. – Amos 1.11, CSB Who was Edom, and what were they guilty of? The sin of Edom was his persistent and unfeeling hostility against his brother. “Brother” could refer to some unknown treaty partner… Read ⇢

Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of armies… – Isaiah 6.3, CSB In the same year when Judah’s King Uzziah died, after reigning over Judah for 52 years, Isaiah “saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne” (Isaiah 6.1, CSB). Uzziah’s throne was filled by his son, Jotham,… Read ⇢

In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious,… – Isaiah 4.2, CSB I don’t pretend to understand the prophets or the end times, at least now while I’m writing this. There is a temptation, as a pastor, to pretend to know everything in the Bible… Read ⇢

“come and let’s walk in the LORD’s light.” – Isaiah 2.5, CSB Do you feel it? The pressure keeps building. As it does, things unravel, and chaos ensues. And the problem is that we will actually sit with a screen in our hands or on our desks to either entertain… Read ⇢

Yet the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places. – 2 Kings 15.35, CSB The temptation to settle for less than the Lord is strong. So, we can easily make one small compromise because the “yet” is very attractive. But… Read ⇢

The LORD asked, “Is it right for you to be angry?” – Jonah 4.4, CSB “Is it right for you to be angry?” It’s a pointed and loaded question that confronts each of us. Some may read it and get even angrier, convinced they can feel and express any emotion… Read ⇢

The LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. – John 1.17, CSB God told Jonah to go and preach against Nineveh. So, he got up and went in the complete opposite direction. Why? Because Jonah… Read ⇢