Scripture Focus: Amos 1:2, 1:3, and 3:3–6 (NLT)

“The Lord’s voice will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem! The lush pastures of the shepherds will dry up; the grass on Mount Carmel will wither and die.”
— Amos 1:2

“This is what the Lord says: ‘The people of [these nations] have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished.’”
— Amos 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 13; 2:1, 4, 6

“Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?”
— Amos 3:3

🔥 Devotion:
Amos was just a shepherd and fig tree farmer — yet God gave him a lion’s roar to deliver a message to a rebellious people. The Lord's voice wasn't faint or forgettable. It roared from Zion, full of authority, power, and judgment.
And what was He roaring about?
Sin. Ongoing, blatant sin — not just from foreign nations, but from His own people, Israel and Judah. In Amos 1 and 2, we see the repeated phrase:

“They have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished.”

This wasn’t impulsive anger. It was the result of long-suffering patience that had finally run its course. God had watched:

• Injustice grow like weeds,
• Idolatry replace devotion,
• The poor oppressed,
• The holy profaned.

And just like a lion doesn’t roar without reason, God doesn’t bring judgment without cause (Amos 3:3–6).
He sees. He warns. He acts.
But as much as this reveals God’s justice, it also reveals something about us.
From the moment God delivered Israel from Egypt, they had a pattern:
They'd rebel, return, then rebel again.
They forgot His goodness. They turned to empty idols.
They chose their old ways over God's best.
And before we shake our heads at them, let’s be honest — we’ve done the same.
Without Jesus, there is no good thing in us (Romans 7:18).
Our hearts are deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9).
Our flesh is weak, even when our spirit is willing.
But here's the good news:
God punished sin. But Jesus took the punishment for us.
He bore what we deserved so we could receive what we never earned — forgiveness, redemption, and eternal life. And now, when God speaks, we don't hear the roar of judgment but the whisper of grace, drawing us close.


📚 New Testament Connection:
In 2 Timothy 4, Paul urges us to proclaim the truth boldly, just like Amos did. He warns that people will turn away from sound doctrine and chase what “tickles their ears.” But we are called to endure, evangelize, and finish the race faithfully.

🪞 Lesson for Me:

• God still sees all sin — and He still cares about holiness.
• I must not walk in one direction and expect God to walk with me unless I’ve agreed to go His way.
• Jesus bore my punishment — not so I can continue in sin, but so I can walk in freedom.
• His love deserves a response: surrender, obedience, and holy devotion.

✍️ Application Questions

1. Am I walking in agreement with God — or am I expecting Him to follow me?
   • What area of my life needs realignment with His Word?
2. Have I grown numb to the "roar" of God's voice — His warnings or His Word?
   • How can I respond today with reverence and action?
3. Are there patterns in my life where I keep falling back into “old ways,” like Israel did?
   • What truth from Scripture can help me break that cycle?
4. What “worthless idols” have I trusted in lately — things that can’t speak, save, or satisfy?
   • What would it look like to fully surrender that to God?
5. How does remembering that Jesus took all the punishment for my sin stir my heart today?
   • What does my love for Him compel me to do this week?
6. What specific step of obedience or devotion can I take as a response to His love and mercy?

🙏 Prayer:
Lord, Your voice still roars today. You are holy, just, and righteous in all You do. Thank You for sending Jesus to take the punishment I deserved. Forgive me for the times I’ve wandered, doubted, or trusted in worthless things. Help me to walk in step with You — not my way, but Yours. Fill me with a love that responds with obedience, awe, and daily surrender. I want to hear You clearly… and follow You completely. In Jesus' name, amen.