A Word of Hope
“In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old, that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name,” declares the LORD who does this. “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the plowman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it. I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them,” says the LORD your God.
Amos 9:11–15
+
A Word of Hope
“It’s always darkest before the dawn.” “When it rains, look for rainbows, when it’s dark, look for stars.” These platitudes are often given when we are at our lowest, by well-meaning friends, but don’t offer much really in the way of consolation. Because in this fallen and broken world, we need something more concrete to trust in. For the people of Amo’s day, even though they chose to ignore God, they knew He was real. Amos was called to warn them and to bring them to repentance. Not all would listen, but for those who were convicted by the Law and brought to repentance by the many oracles and visions threatening judgment, Amos’s prophecy unexpectedly ends with a word of hope, with the Gospel. A day of rich blessing would be coming. The Lord does not forget His promises and always fulfills His Word to His people. The covenant He cut with His people would be upheld by Him, even if they did not. God would bring about restoration and establish the eternal kingdom of His Messiah. As perilous as it is to despise God’s threats of judgment and punishment, as did the people of Amos’s day, it is even more foolish to reject such gracious promises from our God. All of His Holy Word was He caused to be written for our learning. Therefore, we take heed to hear it, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest it that, by patience and comfort of His holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, given to us through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amos 9:11–15
+
A Word of Hope
“It’s always darkest before the dawn.” “When it rains, look for rainbows, when it’s dark, look for stars.” These platitudes are often given when we are at our lowest, by well-meaning friends, but don’t offer much really in the way of consolation. Because in this fallen and broken world, we need something more concrete to trust in. For the people of Amo’s day, even though they chose to ignore God, they knew He was real. Amos was called to warn them and to bring them to repentance. Not all would listen, but for those who were convicted by the Law and brought to repentance by the many oracles and visions threatening judgment, Amos’s prophecy unexpectedly ends with a word of hope, with the Gospel. A day of rich blessing would be coming. The Lord does not forget His promises and always fulfills His Word to His people. The covenant He cut with His people would be upheld by Him, even if they did not. God would bring about restoration and establish the eternal kingdom of His Messiah. As perilous as it is to despise God’s threats of judgment and punishment, as did the people of Amos’s day, it is even more foolish to reject such gracious promises from our God. All of His Holy Word was He caused to be written for our learning. Therefore, we take heed to hear it, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest it that, by patience and comfort of His holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, given to us through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Recent
Archive
2024
January
The Lord Keeps for HimselfAll Day LongFaith Comes By HearingSalvation Has ComeGrafted InStand Fast By FaithKindness and SeverityThe MysteryMercy on AllUnsearchableLiving SacrificesGiftsGenuine LoveThe Meaning of LifeGod EstablishedThe Summary of the Law is LoveThe Armor of LightMade to StandLiving to the LordEvery Knee Shall BowStumbling BlockTrue FreedomServant of the ChurchOur ExampleFellow WorkersAbound in HopeA Good TeacherGod’s WorkTravel PlansThe Fullness of His BlessingStrive TogetherWelcomeGreet One AnotherWatch Out
February
GreetingsAble to StrengthenAuthorityBlessed BeRedemption in His BloodSpiritual BlessingsGive ThanksDead Men WalkingBy GraceSeparatedGod's WorkmanshipBy GraceImmeasurable RichesBrought NearNo More HostilityTotal AccessFellow CitizensFor This ReasonMystery RevealedLeast of AllEternal PurposeFaith in HimSpiritual StrengthAbundant GiftWalk in LoveGifts to MenChrist's MeasureUnity of the FaithTo and Fro
March
Truth in LoveWalking a New PathA New SelfPut Away FalsehoodNew LifeImitators of GodSons of DisobedienceChildren of LightThe Will of the LordOne FleshFilled with the SpiritThe Church SubmitsChrist LovesProfound MysteryChildren of PromiseBring Them UpBondservants of ChristYour MasterStrong in the LordThe Whole Armor of GodStand FirmLove IncorruptibleGrace and PeaceHope Laid UpRedemptionThe Fullness of GodReconciledThe Hope of GloryToilGreat StruggleRooted in Christ