What Does The Lord Require of You?

Micah 6:6-8

The text for our study is Mic 6:6-8 ‘"With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

A passage considered by many to be one of the most comprehensive and all-embracing statements in the Old Testament in which Micah raises the question: “What does the Lord require of you?” Micah answers his own question, and makes some important points.... Not only for the sake of Israel of his day; but for the benefit of the Lord's church today. -- For as with all of the Old Testament, it was written for our learning - Ro 15:4 “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

As we seek to learn from this passage, let's first consider the question, what did the Lord require of Israel? Let’s start with considering what Israel may have thought. Some possibilities, even some absurdities: year-old calves as burnt offerings; thousands of rams; ten thousands rivers of oil; offering of the firstborn child? Some observations are: God did indeed speak of some of these things. Like the offering of calves and rams -see Lev 1:1-13. But the absurd amount of oil and offering of the firstborn are examples of hyperbole for the sake of emphasis. From the context, it appears ritualistic sacrifices alone did not please God. One could not please God by simply offering innumerable sacrifices, even things precious to the worshiper. For religious rituals properly ordained of God to be accepted, they must be accompanied by other things just as essential (more detail on this point will be cover later in this lesson).

What did God really require of Israel? To do justly. This means “to act toward God and man according to the divine standard of righteousness revealed in His law.” (Hailey). This did involve the offering of sacrifices commanded by God, but it also involved treating their fellow man in a way that was right and fair. -- Failure to do "justly" was one of the main reasons Israel went into captivity – see for example Zec 7:8-14; 8:16-17.

To love mercy. This means “to show a compassionate warm-heartedness toward man.” (Hailey). Not only treat others fairly, but to show mercy when mistreated themselves.

-- One reason they were to love mercy was because God Himself delighted in showing mercy - Mic 7:18-19 “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”

To walk humbly with your God. This means living “in humble and submissive obedience to His desire and will.” (Hailey). It can only happen when we “recognize the absolute holiness and righteousness of God.” (Hailey). -- It is the humble of heart and spirit that greatly pleases God - Isa 57:15 “For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”; 66:1-2 “Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.”

These three things God required of those who would come before Him. Not instead of the ritual observances, but in conjunction with them (Mt 23:23 ‘"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”). Now for an application of our text to those who are Christians today. What does the Lord require of us? Let’s consider what some might think. Some might think all the Lord requires is the observance of certain rituals. Like attending church on Sunday and partaking in the Lord’s Supper, as though if one does this, they have done all that is required. I sometimes wonder if people really believe this. That’s the impression one receives by their example. That’s the answer often received from some. Certainly attending the services of the church is important. It is essential to obeying God - He 10:25 “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” It is required if we expect to grow spiritually - He 10:24-25 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” In fact, I am persuaded that failure to attend every service can be displeasing to God - Ep 5:15-17 “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” When absent, are we making the most of our time? Do we really believe our absence is the Lord’s will for us? This attitude can explain the lack of several things, such as the lack of spiritual growth, the lack of commitment in the work of the church, and the lack of close fellowship with God and other Christians. -- Yes, I am convinced that it is essential that we observe what “rituals” God has ordained for us; but the Lord requires more than just “attending church”. But what does the Lord require of us today? We will look into this in our next part of this lesson.

Neither Shall They Learn War Anymore - Cont.

Micah 4:1-3

In looking at our response to evil in the previous part of this lesson we will now look at what it means to be partakers of the divine nature. First, in order to be like God - Lk 6:35-36 "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." God is described as:

Kind, even to unthankful and evil men - Ro 5:8 "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Just, as will be manifested one day - Ro 2:5-8 "But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury."

God expects His spiritual kingdom to demonstrate His mercy:

By proclaiming the gospel of mercy - 1 Pe 2:9-10 "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

By demonstrating mercy in our lives - Lk 6:36 "Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."

God expects earthly governments to exercise His vengeance:

They are His ministers to which we are to submit - Ro 13:1-3 "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,"

They are to execute wrath on the evil doer - Ro 13:4 "for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer."

Unless we are proper representatives of the government, it is not our place to administer

justice to evildoers. We must leave vengeance (justice) to God - Ro 12:19 "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."' We must let His governmental agents execute wrath - Ro 13:4 "for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer." -- With the exception of "church discipline" - 1 Co 5:1-13; 2 Th 3:6-15. As "sons of the Highest", our duty is to show mercy, or active good will. Showing kindness to our enemies - Ro 12:20 "To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head."' Refusing to be overcome by evil (i.e., brought down to their level) - Ro 12:21 "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." -- As we respond to evil with mercy and goodness, we are more likely to obtain our third reason for reacting to evil in this way...

To overcome evil - Ro 12:21 "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." How can we best hope to overcome evil and change the evil person? If we react as:

1) Avenger, defender or passive resister

2) We only convince the opposition that might makes right

If we react as:

1) Runner or helpless

2) We may only confirm the opposition's view that we are cowardly or weak

The most likely way to both overcome evil and change the evil person is by reacting with active good will! Is this not how God sought to change the world? - Ro 5:8 "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."; Jn 3:16 `"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."; Ro 2:4 "Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" Is this not how Jesus sought to change the world? - 1 Pe 2:21-25 "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." Certainly Jesus' example demonstrates a better way to handle conflict and evil... His humility and sacrificial love has motivated many to turn from sin. And we are called to walk in His steps!

Those who do often follow Jesus' example make a powerful impact on others: Kim Joon-gon has seen 2,000 out 20,000 people on Chunnam Island murdered by the Communists. They dragged his family to a spot where 160 people from two villages had gathered to beat the Christians. There Kim's father and wife were beaten to death and Kim was left for dead. When he revived and sought safety at an acquaintance's house, he was turned over to the Communists. Only the sudden appearance of an American ship off the island coast saved him this time, for the Communist soldiers hurried away to battle. He hid out in the countryside until the South Korean army captured the island. The Communists who had killed his wife and father were arrested. Because it was wartime, the police chief had authority to execute without trial. But as the chief prepared to kill the men, Kim pleaded, `Spare them. They were forced to kill.'

The police chief showed great surprise. `It was your family they killed! Why do you now ask for their lives?' Kim replied quietly, `Because the Lord, whose I am and whom I serve, would have me show mercy to them.' The Communists were spared execution because of Kim's plea. News of his action spread among other Communist supporters in the area. When Kim later ascended a mountain to preach to Communists hiding out, he was not killed. Many of the Communists became Christians, and when Kim finally left the island there was a flourishing church of 108 members. - Dictionary Of Illustrations, p. 188

We may never be called upon to manifest the power of responding to evil with good in such a remarkable way... We can begin though by how we respond to personal abuses we often receive from others. We can react to evil treatment even on a small scale with active good will. How? By showing that we are different from sinners; demonstrating that we are trying to be sons of the Highest we are more likely to overcome evil and convert the sinner. Reacting to evil with good will does not always convert the evildoer.... Jesus was crucified on the cross, enduring hostility by sinners - He 12:2-3 "looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted." In such cases we must commit our cause to God, as did Jesus - 1 Pe 2:21-23 "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly."; 4:19 "Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good." While the physical government may step in and exercise the judgment of God, our duty as citizens of the spiritual kingdom is to show mercy:

"Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful"

Whenever we show mercy (or active good will) in response to evil, we fulfill one of the many promises of the Messianic age:

"Neither shall they learn war any more."

Speaking of mercy, have you accepted the invitation of God to respond to His loving mercy through obedience to the gospel...?

Neither Shall They Learn War Anymore

Micah 4:1-3

One of many Messianic prophecies is found in Mic 4:1-3 (“It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, and many nations shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide for strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore;”), in which we read that the mountain of the Lord's house will be established and the Word of the Lord will go forth from Jerusalem. -- Fulfillment of this wonderful age began with the spread of the gospel and establishment of the Lord's church, or kingdom - Lk 24:44-47 “Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”; He 12:18-24 “For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, "If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned." Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with fear." But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.”, 28 “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,”. Those willing to come to the mountain of the Lord's house will be taught concerning the Lord's ways and walk in His paths - Mic 4:2. Among the things they will learn, is not to use war anymore - Mic 4:3. While the ancient kingdom of Israel often resorted to war, such would not be the case with the kingdom of the Messiah. Its kingdom would be spiritual, not advanced or defended by the use of force - Jn 18:36 “Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world."’ Its citizens would learn a new way to respond to evil and handle conflict

In the words of Micah (and Isaiah, see for example Isa 2:1-4), “Neither Shall They Learn War Anymore.” In what way do we see this fulfilled? One way is in the teaching of Jesus concerning reacting to conflict and evil. The following are ways people are known to react:

The Avenger: retaliates with force with the objective to punish.

The Defender: uses force only for the sake of self-preservation.

The Passive Resister: resists without the use of force, daring the evil person to harm an unarmed person (for example, Ghandi, Martin Luther King, et al).

The Runner: flees from abuse, seeking to escape.

The Helpless: unable to flee or defend, passively allows others to mistreat them/

Let’s now look at some scripture text to see how Jesus taught us to react. Consider the words of Jesus and His apostles - Lk 6:27-31 ‘"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.”; Ro 12:17-21 “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” When we examine these verses carefully, we note the following. We are not being taught to:

1) Be a Passive Resister (contrary to Ghandi, King, et al).

2) Be a Runner (though Jesus taught the principle of fleeing elsewhere – see for example Mt 10:23).

3) Stand Helpless.

We are being taught to:

1) React to evil in a positive way.

2) To overcome evil with good.

Jesus taught the principle of “responding to active evil will with active good will”. Someone does us evil, we are to react with good. Note the examples used by Jesus: when someone...

1) Curses you, bless them.

2) Spitefully uses you, pray for them.

3) Strikes you, offer the other cheek.

4) Takes your cloak, give them your tunic.

5) Ask for something, give it to them.

6) Take something from you, don't ask it back.

-- In each case, one reacts to evil with active good will (i.e., love)

Thus Jesus teaches us another way to deal with conflict and respond to evil abuse: not by using instruments of war, nor by simply remaining passive or necessarily fleeing, but by reacting to evil with positive expressions of good will towards the offender! Why does Jesus teach us to do this...? The reason to react with active good will is to be different from sinners - Lk 6:32-34 ‘"If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.” It is human nature to show good will only to friends. To react to enemies as:

1) Avenger

2) Defender

3) Passive Resister

4) Runner

5) Helpless

We are called to be partakers of the divine nature - 2 Pe 1:2-4 “May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” We Are to put off the old man, with its typical reaction to abuse - Co 3:5-9 “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices.” Putting on the new man, reacting to abuse in a new way - Co 3:10-14 “and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

-- As we do so, we become more like Christ, which leads to the second reason...

In being called to be partakers of the divine nature how can we be like God? We will examine this in the second part of this lesson.

A Fammine For the Word - Cont.

Amos 8:11-14

The present famine also produces similar results as noted in the previous portion of this lesson! Amos described a sad picture in Am 8:13-14:

1) Young people fainting from "thirst"

2) Others falling and not rising again

Doesn't this describe the daily lives of many Christians today?

1) Suffering from a lack of "spiritual food"... They are easily overcome by temptation! Even the common trials of life overwhelm them!

2) This may help us understand why some new Christians fall away. Young people often lose interest! The behavior of some elders, preachers, and teachers is what it is!

There are two things that are necessary to resist trials and temptations:

1) Faith in God: believing that He will provide a way of escape - 1 Co 10:13"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

2) Fear of God: awesome reverence that motivates us to turn from evil - Pro 16:6"By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil."

-- The Word of God is designed to impart both! - Ro 10:17"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."; Deu 17:18-19`"And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them,"; 31:10-13"And Moses commanded them, "At the end of every seven years, at the set time in the year of release, at the Feast of Booths, when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess."'

The condition of many churches today is one of "spiritual malnutrition"! Influenced by materialism, immorality, and a lack of true spirituality, by choice many people have imposed a famine on themselves for the Word of God! This helps to explain the discouragement and defeat in the lives of so many Christians today! What can be done about it? How can we end this self-imposed famine for the Word of God?

In order to end the famine we must first appreciate the power of God's word. It possesses the power of creation demonstrated with the creation of the physical realm - He 11:3"By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible."; Gen 1:3"And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light."It has similar power in the spiritual realm, producing true regeneration! - Jn 6:63"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life."; 1 Pe1:23"since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;"; Ja 1:18"Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures."

It possesses the power of sanctification as praised by David in his psalm - Ps 19:7-11"The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward."As mentioned by Jesus in His prayer - Jn 17:17"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth."

It possesses the power of preservation. The young are instructed to keep their ways pure by it - Psa 119:9"How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word."The elders are exhorted to keep the church pure by it - Ac 20:28-32"Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified."A lack of knowledge has always destroyed God's people - Hos 4:6"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children."

It possesses the power of salvation and condemnation. It can save our souls when properly received - Ja 1:21"Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls."It will be the standard by which we will be judged - Jn 12:48"The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day." -- Should this not motivate us to learn the Word of God? Would it not be foolish to neglect such power in our lives?

In order to end the famine we must first appreciate the power of God's word, and then we must feed upon it! Like newborn babies longing for their mothers' milk, so we need to long for the word of God! - 1 Pe 2:2"Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation". I contend that nothing less than daily reading of God's Word is necessary! We appreciate the value of daily nourishment for our bodies. Do our souls deserve any less? They were created in the image of God! They are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb! One soul is more valuable than the whole world put together! - Mt 16:26"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life?"

A simple practice of Daily Bible Reading will go a long way to ending this famine for the Word of God! A reasonable goal at first is to read a chapter a day. I recommend reading through the New Testament first and then meditating on what you read. At the rate of one chapter a day, one will easily read the NT in a year. Once the habit of daily Bible reading has been established, reading three chapters a day will enable one to read through the entire Bible once a year. That is really not too much to do, yet many Christians have never read the Bible through once! It takes the average reader only 20-30 minutes a day. The use of some sort of Bible reading chart or checklist may be helpful. As you read, make it a time for meditation and prayer. Meditating upon the Word - Psa 1:1-3"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers."Praying for wisdom and help to obey God's word - Psa 119:18 "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.",33-37"He. Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.""is desirable in order to serve God; that we may do so aright, we should seek to have our eyes opened to behold His truth, and earnestly desire fully to understand it. To encourage us in prayer for divine aid in adhering to His truth, we are permitted to believe that by His help we shall succeed. "the way of thy statutes" --that is, the way or manner of life prescribed by them. The help we hope to obtain by prayer is to be the basis on which our resolutions should rest." (JFB)

It must have been terrible for the Israelites; taken away as captives to a strange land. Unable to feed on the wonderful Word of God! But how tragic for those who impose a famine for the Word upon themselves today...! By their own neglect they languish from spiritual malnutrition. By their own neglect they remain captives to sin. Their tragedy is increased when we realize their neglect is not just one related to the Word of God as it existed in Amos' day. But they are neglecting the full and final revelation of God's Word given through Jesus and His apostles! -- By God's grace they have so much more to enjoy, yet they turn aside from this spiritual feast! I challenge everyone to make the commitment not to neglect the all-powerful Word of God! Feast daily upon that Word which can save your souls! As Paul told the Ephesian elders as he bid them farewell:

"So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified." – Ac 20:32