Ho, Ho, Ho?

PRAY: Heavenly Father, you know how busy I am in my daily life. You also know how much I need to be still, be still, be still, and know that you are God.

READ: Amos 5:1-27

REFLECT: Do you ever wonder how God feels when we sin? Perhaps he's like a shopping mall Santa Claus - He doesn't know what we've done, and he doesn't really care. He chuckles and promises to give us what we want. Not exactly.

As we've discovered in this passage, God has some pretty strong things to say to folks who go through the motions of worship without acknowledging their sin. "I hate... I despise... I cannot stand... I will not accept... I will have no regard... I will not listen" (vv. 21-23). That's no shopping mall Santa.

We might want to be more euphemistic about sin. "Well, nobody's perfect." Or "We all have our little peccadilloes." Or "That's just the way I am," but it's important not to gloss over the fact that God hates sin with a passion. That's the prophet Amos' message for the people of Israel in the eighth century. They were piously attending worship and longing for the day when God would punish everyone else ("the day of the LORD" [v. 18]). God was angry because these highly religious people weren't practicing what they preached. They abused the poor to live in luxury (v. 11); they manipulated the courts and deprived innocent people of justice (v. 12). In short, the society had become so corrupt that good people were afraid to speak out (v. 13). Some say Amos could be describing Western society and the church today.

It can be frightening to think of God being so angry. Only when we understand the depth of his revulsion for sin can we fully appreciate the height of his love for us in sending his own Son. Jesus Christ willingly died for the world's sins that God hated so much. That's not anger; it's overwhelming love.

APPLY: Amos encouraged his readers to seek the Lord (vv. 4, 6). How could you do that this week?

PRAY: Thank you, heavenly Father, that even though you know all about my sin, you loved me so much that you sent Jesus to deal with the consequences of it.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR "THE NEED FOR A SAVIOR"

1. How did you first become aware of such a thing as sin?

2. How do you define sin now?

3. Do you think the church and Christian people focus too much or not enough on sin? Why?

4. How does knowing that God hates sin make you feel? How does it make you feel that God solved the sin problem himself?

5. Do you think it's fair to say God has an "angry side"? Why?

6. Have you ever sensed a need for a Savior? When and why?

7. Do you think it's possible to understand the good news about salvation without understanding the bad news about sin? Why or why not?

The Essential Jesus (Part 3): Previews of a Savior

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