What sorrow awaits you who say, “If only the day of the Lord were here!” You have no idea what you are wishing for. That day will bring darkness, not light. In that day you will be like a man who runs from a lion—only to meet a bear. Escaping from the bear, he leans his hand against a wall in his house—and he’s bitten by a snake. Yes, the day of the Lord will be dark and hopeless, without a ray of joy or hope. “I hate all your show and pretense—the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings. Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice an endless river of righteous living. [Amos 5.18-24]
What if these words were spoken to the church today?
What if these words ARE spoken to the church today?
God wants to see justice. He wants to see righteous living. Not only does He "not like" what He sees, but He hates the empty pretense and hypocrisy of shallow religion. He refuses to accept the heartless gestures of such ritual-beautiful as we may think it is!
Yes, it is justice the LORD wants. And yet, justice seems to only be becoming more obscure today. Mind you, justice is for the righteous! When criminals and evil people are given more rights and consideration than victims, then it is not justice! It may be 'something' - it may be advanced civilization, but it is not justice.
Father, let there be a revival of justice!
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