Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate. Amos 5:15 ESV

     In the book of Amos there was much injustice taking place. The kingdoms were established and had what would be considered successful kings by worldly standards, but these kings allowed the worship of other gods, and allowed idols to be built in the land. The people had a form of godliness but did not live by God’s instruction. Thus, God was not pleased with their attempt to worship Him while allowing false gods to be worshipped. Remember Israel was a people that God had set free from slavery in Egypt. They were a chosen people to whom God had shown Himself strong, and had established them in the land against all odds. Those who were blessed richly by God were not taking care of the poor and allowed slavery by selling those who could not pay their debts. The same people whom God had freed from slavery now allowed it among themselves. This is why Amos was led by God to address the people of Israel. Amos, a fig tree farmer and a shepherd, was the tool in God’s hand to speak against the actions of the people. No matter what period of time in this world, God still hates injustice and adulterated worship. God, being a just God, sent Jesus to be for us what we could never be without Him. Holy. Jesus is our justice before God. God has richly blessed us and set us free from the slavery of sin, and expects us to worship Him alone. In doing so, it will open the gate for others to receive freedom when God uses us to establish this fact. He is just and merciful to all who come to Him by believing in His only Son whom He sent into the world.

We Should Hate Evil:
     Let love be genuine. ABHOR WHAT IS EVIL : hold fast to what is good. Romans 12:9ESV.  To abhor evil is to have a disgust toward all that is evil. It doesn’t matter if the evil is in your own life, or if its evil that the world promotes as good; it is still evil in God’s sight.

We Are To Love Good:
     Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; HOLD FAST TO WHAT IS GOOD. Romans12:9 ESV  Do not compromise the call of God in the lifestyle evidence of living as a Christian. Being a Christian isn’t so much what you don’t do, as much as it is, what you do. Romans 12: 9-21 (ESV) describes it like this….. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent is spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay says the lord. To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Jesus Is the Established Justice:
     For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are JUSTIFIED by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ. Romans 3:23-24 ESV

     Therefore, since we have been JUSTIFIED by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 ESV

     When we are covered by the redeeming Blood Of The Lamb…JESUS, we should desire to live for Him as he has called us to do. Amos addressed Israel as to a coming judgement for their unfaithfulness in living and worshiping as God had instructed them to do. We have the same call under grace to worship and live as God has called us to do. Grace is not a ticket to sin, …. Are we to continue is sin that grace may abound? By no means! Romans 6 1-2 ESV As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy,  for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1: 15-16 ESV

     Let me encourage all that go by the name Christian to ….Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate. Amos 5:15 ESV …. Jesus is that justice.

By His Grace ~ Pastor David