He is not far from each one of us. “For in Him we live and move and have our being.” As some of your own poets have said, “We are His offspring.” Acts 17:27-28.

But you have neglected the more important matters of the law – justice, mercy and faithfulness. Matthew 23:23.

Our chapter, Amos 1, could apply to today. Amos was a shepherd living in the nation of Judah, and he was sent by Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, to the neighboring nation of Israel. Imagine someone from Mexico or from Canada today coming to the United States, sent by Creator God to warn us of the coming judgment. God was pronouncing judgment upon Israel, for its complacency, idolatry, and oppression of the poor. They were wealthy. And Amos spoke with brutal honesty to the nations around Israel and Judah for their sins – and then he turned to Judah; and then he turned to Israel. In the notes below: “Everyone was optimistic, business was booming, and people were happy (except for the poor and oppressed). With all the comfort and luxury came self-sufficiency and a false sense of security. But prosperity brought corruption and destruction.” The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa – the vision he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel. He said, “The Lord roars from Zion and thunders from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds dry up, and the top of Carmel withers.” v. 1-2. He goes on to speak the words of the Lord against Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon; and to each God first says, “For three sins, even for four, I will not relent”…Because she threshed Gilead with sledges having iron teeth…Because she took captive whole communities and sold them to Edom…Because she sold whole communities of captives to Edom, disregarding a treaty of brotherhood…Because he pursued his brother with a sword and slaughtered the women of the land, because his anger raged continually and his fury flamed unchecked…Because he ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to extend his borders…v. 3, 8, 9, 11, 13. When we see judgment on other nations for their sins, saying, “Amen!”, never forget God loves them. And when we come under correction and judgment for the sins of our nation, never forget it is because we need God’s love to work in us. When we lose sight of God, we become blind to our own sins. Why do you think the prophets spoke? Why do you think Jesus, the Son, came? Why do you think God sent the Spirit to work within hearts turned to Him? Because without God’s love and His truth, we are lost in sins so grievous God needed to show us what love is. We have just left the anniversary of Holy Week, of the beating and death by crucifixion of Jesus the Son, and of the Resurrection of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. And each day since dawns anew. There are sins in this present world we live in that are so grievous, we need the Holy Spirit to show us what love is. He is here. Our choice. Always. Without Him, we lose sight of Creator God and that In Him we live and move and have our being. In Him!