Good morning -
The hike was well worth the effort just to see the beautiful waterfalls. It was a relatively easy trail in the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee, and it ended beside an energetic waterfalls. Standing on the rock shelf beside the falls, overlooking a deep chasm below, the rushing stream was clearly visible in the opposite direction; the white-capped waters rushing down the mountainside. That breathtaking sight flooded my mind as I read these words:
"But let justice roll down like waters And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." (Amos 5:24)
God's words are both a picture and a plea. They are a picture of ultimate justice and righteousness in the coming kingdom, but primarily they were a plea for action to avoid judgment. The previous verse reveals God's extreme displeasure with His people:
"Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps." (Amos 5:23)
The sounds of worship and praise were loathsome to the God who ultimately desired justice and righteousness from His people. Music was merely noise devoid of these essential qualities.
A lifestyle of praise is characterized, not just by music, but by fairness and equity in our dealings with all people, and especially the family of God (Galatians 6:10). If justice and righteousness don't flow down from our lives then our songs are merely annoying noise in the ears of our God.
As we pray for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as in heaven, we ask that we be used as instruments of justice and righteousness today even as look for ultimate justice and righteousness in the coming age. The causes that He leads us to are those areas where His heart and passion are. Perhaps He will lead us to be merciful to someone who is oppressed, or to help the homeless. Without question, He will lead us to bless members of the body of Christ and to extend justice to them.
I'm looking forward to the next time that I worship together with the body of Christ, but I want my song to be a sweet offering characterized by overflowing righteousness and justice in my dealings with others.
May the Lord freely flow through us to demonstrate the kingdom to others through abundant righteousness and justice.
Pastor Steve
The hike was well worth the effort just to see the beautiful waterfalls. It was a relatively easy trail in the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee, and it ended beside an energetic waterfalls. Standing on the rock shelf beside the falls, overlooking a deep chasm below, the rushing stream was clearly visible in the opposite direction; the white-capped waters rushing down the mountainside. That breathtaking sight flooded my mind as I read these words:
"But let justice roll down like waters And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." (Amos 5:24)
God's words are both a picture and a plea. They are a picture of ultimate justice and righteousness in the coming kingdom, but primarily they were a plea for action to avoid judgment. The previous verse reveals God's extreme displeasure with His people:
"Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps." (Amos 5:23)
The sounds of worship and praise were loathsome to the God who ultimately desired justice and righteousness from His people. Music was merely noise devoid of these essential qualities.
A lifestyle of praise is characterized, not just by music, but by fairness and equity in our dealings with all people, and especially the family of God (Galatians 6:10). If justice and righteousness don't flow down from our lives then our songs are merely annoying noise in the ears of our God.
As we pray for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as in heaven, we ask that we be used as instruments of justice and righteousness today even as look for ultimate justice and righteousness in the coming age. The causes that He leads us to are those areas where His heart and passion are. Perhaps He will lead us to be merciful to someone who is oppressed, or to help the homeless. Without question, He will lead us to bless members of the body of Christ and to extend justice to them.
I'm looking forward to the next time that I worship together with the body of Christ, but I want my song to be a sweet offering characterized by overflowing righteousness and justice in my dealings with others.
May the Lord freely flow through us to demonstrate the kingdom to others through abundant righteousness and justice.
Pastor Steve
posted by steve @ 9:41 AM
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