I abhor the pride of Jacob

I abhor the pride of Jacob

Scripture: Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria,
you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come! Amos 6:2

You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph. Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile; your feasting and lounging will end. The Sovereign LORD has sworn by himself—the LORD God Almighty declares: “I abhor the pride of Jacob and detest his fortresses; I will deliver up the city and everything in it.” Amos 6:6-8

Observation: The first passage of Scripture in Amos is a warning towards those who are complacent. Typical of the end time church, which is interpreted as the Laodician church at large, is their complacency. They think they are alright, having big buildings, money in the coffers and plenty of activities for the member to pass time by. In Jesus' letter to the Laodicians, he said “

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see” Revelation 3:15-18 Typical of complacency is lukewarmness, a commitment without passion. In contrast, God calls us to be passionate for Him,on fire and zealous for the Lord's sake.

The second passage of Scripture warms those who are enjoying life, drinking plentiful wine and using the finest lotions but with no regard for the plight or suffering others. Some people think that it's perfectly fine to live life peacefully, minding your own business and enjoying your possessions. However, the Scripture tells us that the sin of omission also has consequences. We who follow Jesus are also called to care for the poor, to have a heart desiring to reach out and help those less fortunate than us. This passage also reminds us that God hates pride. We must always be humble before Him and depend on the Lord rather than on our fortresses (be it our money, property, qualification, skills,etc.)

Application: Always be on guard against complacency. Desire a fresh anointing, a fresh passion for the Lord and for the lost. Pray for a heart of compassion for others. Do not just treat those suffering as strangers but seek to make a difference where we can. Remember to be humble always before the Lord and to trust in Him rather than worldly fortresses.

Prayer: Forgive me O Lord for the times I have become complacent. Give me a fresh anointing and passion I pray. Let me have a heart of compassion for others, and empower me to make a difference where I can. Forgive my pride. Let me always walk humbly before Your.Bless Your holy name, In Jesus name, Amen.