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From our Head to our Feet
Our Wednesday evening studies of Amos have engendered some lively discussion as to how the people of God are to rightly put a proper theology into daily, Godly living. Whether we are experiencing God’s abundant provision or a time of famine, we are to seek Him and His ways above all. Amos appeals to the people of God to not trust in their lineage (Amos 1:4-5), hide behind worldly strongholds (Amos 1:4-14;2:-5;3:9-11;6:8), be complacent in wealth and material pleasures (Amos 4:1), or assume that heartless, ritualistic worship will be acceptable to God (Amos 4:5). But there is also a special emphasis on how the rich and powerful are to treat those who have no power—the poor, the oppressed laborers, the debtors, the fatherless.
This call to care for the weakest of God’s special creation is central to the Gospel, namely that our spiritual failure has disqualified us from retaining place and relationship with our holy, loving, heavenly Father. Because of our absolute spiritual bankruptcy and inner devotion to utter evil, it took the work of a perfect man, Jesus Christ the Son of God, sufficient in all righteousness, with full spiritual resources to pay our debt and raise us to spiritual life. God first loved us in our absolute poverty and called us into His royal family, blessing us beyond measure with eternal and temporal blessings. Should we not, then, be eager to devote our mental, physical, and spiritual resources to the furtherance of the name of Christ among our friends, coworkers, and neighbors? Should we not loudly proclaim Christ in the public square? With a proper view of the spiritual cesspool from which we were delivered, and where we stand now as beloved children of the Most Holy Father, I dare say we would delight to respond with grace and mercy to those who are materially destitute, are spiritually blind and enslaved, and are most powerless in our midst.
I implore us all (yes, me too) to look inside and take stock of how much we have been given (hint: infinity) and how much we give to spread the name of Christ (hint: not infinity). I pray we all find new ways to engage the spiritually bankrupt with the Word of Life to the glory of God and the furtherance of His kingdom and that we bring our head knowledge to full application as we direct our feet to walk in a manner worthy of our calling knowing that “…God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all contentment in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Cor. 9:8)
Walking the narrow path with you all,
Pastor Aaron
