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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Saturday, 18 November 2023:
Amos 6:1,6 — Woe to those who are at ease in Zion…. but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!
The goal of the Christian life is to become Christlike (Romans 8:29), which is the definition of humanity, the life Adam was intended to live but failed to live by choosing to step outside of his designed purpose of being the “image” of God, the perfect reflection of God’s character and will, and by no longer serving as the vessel of the Holy Spirit and the instrument of the Holy Spirit intended to translate God’s spiritual nature into the physical domain in creative goodness. Jesus, who lived the perfect life, the life Adam failed to live, the life we are intended to live, said that eternal life was knowing Him and becoming “one” with Him, one in heart, soul, mind, purpose, and action. (John 17) Jesus said life and purpose come from being connected to Him like a branch is connected to a vine, inseparable, of the same ‘DNA,’ with the life of the vine continuously flowing through the branch, producing the “fruit” of the vine through the branch. He said that unless the branch is inseparable and identical to the vine, the branch has no life and can’t do anything of lasting value. (John 15) Jesus and His apostles reiterate that the mark of a life in Christ is the “fruit of the Spirit, with the first and greatest being love (Galatians 5:22; 1 Corinthians 13:13). John, the Apostle of Love, drives home the point that “abiding” in Christ (living in Christ, remaining connected to Christ and united with Christ) is most revealed by love for others:
- John 15:9, 10, 12 — As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love…. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
- 1 John 2:6, 10 — …whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked….. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.
- 1 John 3:14, 15, 17 — We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him…. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
- 1 John 4:12, 16 — No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us…. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
As God’s messenger, Amos proclaims “woe” to a religious people who were not grieved over the plight of others, revealing their disunity with the God of Love. They lived comfortably while others were suffering. They were “abiding in death.” What does your heart for sinners and those in need reveal about your relationship with God?
Amos 6:3 — O you who put far away the day of disaster and bring near the seat of violence.
Will you live today as if Jesus’ return is to occur any second?
Amos 6:4, 5 — Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp.
Life is not about being comfortable — it is about being faithful.
Amos 6:12 — Do horses run on rocks? Does one plow there with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood.
Don’t be fooled: God doesn’t run with the unrighteous. There is really no such thing as a “carnal Christian.” God will not bless unfaithfulness, and everyone reaps what they sow.
- Galatians 6:7 — Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
Psalm 133:1 — Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
The mark of spiritual maturity is unity with Christ and with fellow Christians. Supernatural unity in Christ demonstrates the power of God to the world and glorifies Him. As mentioned previously, this unity was Jesus’ prayer for us to the Father – “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17:22, 23)
- 1 Corinthians 1:10 — I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
Those who are in Christ “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3) Conversely, the Bible says those who cause disunity are void of the Spirit – “It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.” (Jude 1:19) “As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him.” (Titus 3:10)
Many call for unity around many ideas, organizations or people, but there is no real unity outside of unity in Christ – “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Luke 11:23) “Woe to the shepherds who… scatter the sheep of my pasture!’ declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 23:1)
Unity in Christ puts to death all which divides the unbelieving world, and for those whose identity is in Christ, there is no consideration for identity politics – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)
Proverbs 18:1 – Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.
Christians are not loners. Isolation and individualism is selfishness and unloving. Our mission is all about relationships. God brings people together in unity. It is a destructive sin to ‘go it alone.’ You were made to commune with both God and God’s people. Isolation is a symptom of selfishness, self-centeredness, and pride. God has made us specifically for relationships.
Proverbs 18:2 – A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
What you think is true is irrelevant compared to what really is true. A wise person continually tests their perceptions and beliefs against God’s word and truth. Unbelievers judge God’s word from their perceptions. Believers judge their perceptions from God’s word.
Proverbs 18:9 – Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.
We are to do our work for God, not for men or money. How you work reveals who/what you are working for as well as what you think about God and the honor due him. What does your work reveal?
Proverbs 18:13 – If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.
Christians don’t interrupt. This is one of the most basic rules of listening, communication, and relationship building. If you are thinking about what you are going to say while the other person is talking, you are also breaking this rule.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 18 November 2023: Today, while so many are calling for unity around ideas and social identities, demonstrate unity in Christ, and proclaim unity in Christ alone.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 