Greetings to you all greatly beloved of God and welcome to another episode of our daily study of the Scriptures. We bless the name of the Lord God for enabling us to enter into the last month in the year 2020. It’s a unique privilege to be loved by God. Praise be to God! Happy New Month everyone!
In our today’s episode 608, we shall be examining the book of Amos Chapter 8 titled:
Here Is One More Vision That Reveals A Basket Of Fruits
The basket of fruits that Amos saw in this vision was a ripe one and we all know what usually happens to fruits that are already ripe. They cannot stay for too long and therefore must be eaten as quickly as possible.
Just as the time is short before the fruits would start getting spoilt or rotten, it was in the same way that the time was very short for Israel to be punished for their sins.
The people of Israel at that time, because of their propensity for living in sin, the Bible says they were so close to being discarded.
It was that closeness of God’s judgement upon the unrepentant sinners that was represented by a vision of basket full of summer fruits as described in verses 1-3.
From verse 4 down till verse 7, we can see how the prophet began to expose their wickedness, which was the reason for God’s judgement.
Some of the reasons for their punishment are listed below:
Oppression of the poor. Verse 4 says: “who swallow up the needy, and make the poor of the land to fail.
To swallow up the needy means to trample upon them, depriving them of help.
Instead of feeding the poor, they were feeding from them and leaving them with nothing.
There was high level of injustice in the land.
Religious and political leaders acting as if they were above the law and thereby perverting justice. No wonder their political relevance was dissolved, and the entire nation landed in abject poverty. Verse 8-14.
In the same way that the basket of summer fruits could no longer be kept indoor or could no longer be preserved, the disobedient Israelites were told that their kingdom was ripe to receive God’s judgement.
I want us to pay close attention to verse 7b, which says “…surely, I will never forget any of their works.”
Now, let’s place it side by side with Hebrews 6:10 that says:
For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed towards His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Can you imagine that!
The Israelites then were doing just opposite of what’s in Heb 6:10
The truth is, anything you do for your fellow human beings, you are doing it for God and it’s on record.
That’s why we are advised by Apostle Paul that we should do good to everyone, especially the household of faith. Read Galatians 6:10.
Never discriminate at all and never oppress anyone irrespective of tribe, race, colour, etc.
Remember John 3:16 says For God so loved the world…
The word “world” has captured everyone already, leaving no stone unturned.
Since we were created in the image of God, let’s love the way God loves.
This must be our major goal in life that we must strive to achieve with the help of the Holy Spirit in us.
Always remember this:
For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
On the day of reckoning, it shall be asked of you how you were able to better the life of those around you with the little resources God endowed you with.
When your work will be tested with fire, will it stand the test or it will be like a basket of fruit that easily spoils?
Think about this.
To be continued…Happy new month and stay blessed.
Let’s pray:
As this year is gradually winding up, I declare you are delivered from wicked and unreasonable men. Help from unexpected direction will locate you, in Jesus name.
You will always be safe and secure in all your journeys and you will meet with God’s favour, in Jesus name.
The Lord God is coordinating circumstances, people, locations, resources for your favour, in Jesus name.
Bible Readings For Today: 2Thess. Chapters 1, 2 & 3 with Isaiah 42
I call you blessed now and always.
Tuesday December 1, 2020 (DDMI)
