Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. They sell righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. They trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. I also raised up prophets from among your sons and Nazarites from among your young men. Is this not true, people of Israel? Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants.” The Sovereign Lord has sworn by Himself—the Lord Almighty declares: “I abhor the pride of Jacob and detest his fortresses; I will deliver up the city and everything in it. Surely the eyes of the Sovereign Lord are on the sinful kingdom. I will destroy it from the face of the earth—yet I will not totally destroy the house of Jacob,” declares the Lord. “I will bring back my exiled people Israel; and they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them.”
– Amos 2:6-7, 11, 3:7, 6:8, 9:8, 14
Devotion
Amos was a sheepherder and grower of fig trees. He was from Judah, but called to go to the north to confront Israel over their sins. Amos ministered during the 41 year reign of Jeroboam II, a hugely prosperous time for the people of Israel. It was a time when people were basking in the lap of luxury. Amos’ message centers around the social injustices that were happening during this time of prosperity. They were living the lifestyle of the rich and famous; but they forgot that God had given them riches so they could be generous, not greedy. God had blessed them so that they could, in turn, bless the less fortunate in society. God warns His people: If you continue to revel in your luxuries and abuse the poor, I will strip it all away from you.
The Big Question
Social injustice matters to God. It should matter to us too. Social injustice continues to be such an important issue in our society today. Does your heart reflect God’s heart for those who are oppressed? Do matters of social justice burden your heart, as they do the heart of God?
Spend some time in prayer meditating on what God revealed to you today.