Finished up 1st & 2nd Thess in my morning reading & turned back to the OT. (I go back & forth between the two) In Amos today. Remember, 1 reason among many to read the OT prophets is the enormous insight they lend into what greatly pleases & displeases our very attentive God.

Amos 4 lists a series of circumstances God brought upon His people so they’d look to him. In each case, he repeats the words “yet you did not return to me.” (5X) So he says the chilling words, “Israel, prepare to meet your God! He is here: the one who forms the mountains, creates

the wind, & reveals his thoughts to man, the one who makes the dawn out of darkness and strides on the heights of the earth. The Lord, the God of armies, is his name...Seek Me and live!” Listen carefully: God is not just calling them back to church! He’s calling them back to HIM.

He’s not calling them to write great sermons, books & worship songs. He’s calling them to return to HIM. In times of unbelief, carnality, idolatry & worldliness among the people of God, our bringing all our best religious performances to Him doesn’t distract Him. It sickens Him.

“I hate, I despise, your feasts! I can’t stand the stench of your solemn assemblies... take away from Me the noise of your songs! I won’t listen to the music of your harps. But let justice flow like water & righteousness, like an unfailing stream.” This is the word of the Lord.

Our God is so gracious and merciful. So anxious to show compassion and to restore us. But He is looking for us to return to Him. He is looking for repentance. We have sinned greatly. We, the church, have aligned ourselves with political parties & flesh & blood who cannot save us.

We have compromised our witness from every side. Who among us can claim absolute innocency before God? Yes, Jesus called us to render to Caesar what is Caesar’s. We pay our taxes, pray for our leaders, vote our convictions, etc. But we align ourselves with CHRIST ALONE.

We are in bed with politicians & parties. Let that sink in. WE are the adulterers. Neither party carries all our gospel values. Hear again: yes, we vote carefully, prayerfully but we remain aloof from politicians, we counsel but owe them NOTHING, so we keep our heads on straight.