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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Monday, 7 December 20:
Amos 3:7 — “For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.”
The Bible says that God provides revelation to His servants the prophets. Today, we receive revelation by God’s word enlightened by the Holy Spirit. However, when God’s people turn from Him, revelation ceases, and when revelation ceases, lawlessness only grows – it becomes a downward spiral into destruction. Proverbs 29:18 points out, “Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.” How important is it for us to remain prayerfully in God’s word and to live obediently before the Lord? Peaking ahead into Amos chapter 8, God warns His rebellious people, “’Behold, the days are coming,’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.’” Remember Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Are you feasting on God’s word, or are you famished? Are you being guided by the revelation of The Holy Spirit or simply by what seems right from your limited perspective?
“Christians spend much time talking about “seeking God’s will,” as though it were hidden and difficult to find. God does not hide His will. His will is not difficult to discover. We do not have to plead with God to reveal His will to us. He is more eager to reveal His will than we are willing to receive it. We sometimes ask God to do things He has already done! The people in Amos’s day became disoriented to God and to His desires. God had revealed His will; the problem was that they had not recognized it or obeyed it. Amos declared that God does nothing in the affairs of humanity without seeking one of His servants to whom He will reveal His activity. Tragically, there are times when no one is walking closely enough with Him to be receptive to His word (Isaiah 59:16; 63:5; Ezekiel 22:30-31). Jesus walked so intimately with His Father that He was always aware of what the Father was doing around Him (John 5:19-20). Jesus said that if our eyes are pure, they will see God and recognize His activity (Matt. 6:22). If we are not seeing God’s activity, the problem is not a lack of revelation. The problem is that our sin prevents us from noticing it. When God is working in your child’s life or when He is convicting your coworker, He may reveal His activity to you. His revelation is His invitation for you to join Him in His redemptive work. Be alert to God’s activity around you. He will reveal His activity to His servants. If your spiritual eyes are pure, you will be overwhelmed by all that you see God doing around you!” (Henry T. Blackaby)
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 7 December 20: Remain prayerfully in God’s word, and pay attention to what the Holy Spirit is revealing. Don’t quench the Spirit, grieve the Spirit, or get out of step with the Spirit through disobedience and miss the revelation God intends for you.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 