DEVOTIONAL
Reordering Our Priorities
The northern tribes of Israel in Amos' time seemed like they were doing all the right things. They offered sacrifices to G-d and were exact in their religious observations. And yet, the book of Amos is written to them as a warning—a warning that destruction that would befall them if they refused to change?
Why?
Because they had neglected the true heart of loving and worshiping G-d.
While they were doing many of the "right" things, it's what they weren't doing that drew G-d's ire. They failed to take care of the poor and needy. They turned their eyes away from injustice. Many had turned to idols for help and prayer.
Through Amos, G-d told the people of Israel that it is just as important to be righteous inwardly as it is outwardly. We cannot say we love G-d and others when we fail to help people who are within our power to help.
Just as James 1:27 tells us, true religion includes helping orphans, widows, and those who are in distress. James goes on to write that faith without works is a dead faith (Ya’cov/James 2:26). In short, faith is both believing in the Master and doing the things He has told us to do.
Take some time to think about your own life: how much time do you prioritize on your own spirituality versus serving others?
What ways can you begin to take steps toward serving in your assembly, your neighborhood, or your school in order to help those in need. All of these are ways that our faith becomes complete in Messiah as we follow after Him.
DEVOTIONAL
Reordering Our Priorities
The northern tribes of Israel in Amos' time seemed like they were doing all the right things. They offered sacrifices to G-d and were exact in their religious observations. And yet, the book of Amos is written to them as a warning—a warning that destruction that would befall them if they refused to change?
Why?
Because they had neglected the true heart of loving and worshiping G-d.
While they were doing many of the "right" things, it's what they weren't doing that drew G-d's ire. They failed to take care of the poor and needy. They turned their eyes away from injustice. Many had turned to idols for help and prayer.
Through Amos, G-d told the people of Israel that it is just as important to be righteous inwardly as it is outwardly. We cannot say we love G-d and others when we fail to help people who are within our power to help.
Just as James 1:27 tells us, true religion includes helping orphans, widows, and those who are in distress. James goes on to write that faith without works is a dead faith (Ya’cov/James 2:26). In short, faith is both believing in the Master and doing the things He has told us to do.
Take some time to think about your own life: how much time do you prioritize on your own spirituality versus serving others?
What ways can you begin to take steps toward serving in your assembly, your neighborhood, or your school in order to help those in need. All of these are ways that our faith becomes complete in Messiah as we follow after Him.
One surprising thing about the human story is not that the world around us changes so often, but rather how rarely we notice the changes. The cares of each day tend to obscure the profound historical developments happening right in front of our eyes. Does that mean we're actually sleepwalking through life?
https://thebarkingfox.com/2023..../08/05/sleepwalking-
One surprising thing about the human story is not that the world around us changes so often, but rather how rarely we notice the changes. The cares of each day tend to obscure the profound historical developments happening right in front of our eyes. Does that mean we're actually sleepwalking through life?
https://thebarkingfox.com/2023..../08/05/sleepwalking-
The gargoyles we see in some architecture are the artistic renderings from descriptive accounts. These are no different than the artistic illustrations of the space aliens that many describe today. Both are the artist’s composite from someone’s “encounter” with something. The similarity between the gargoyle of the past and the little grey men from outer space can be attributed to people describing the same type of being. One could speculate what the people are really describing could be a Seraph, (Isaiah 6) the serpent like being that is usually associated as being a demon. Believers need to be cautious when presented with “proof” of some obscure nature, don’t compare the Bible to what you are being told — compare what you are being told to the truth in the Bible.
Shabbat Shalom Dear Torah Family.
Lets Celebrate our Weekly Festival.
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