The Worst Kind of Famine
God told Amos that He was going to send the worst type of famine on Israel. (Amos 8:11) It is horrible to have a famine of food, so that people are starving. It may be even worse to have a famine of water, so that people are dying of thirst. However, there is a famine much worse than either one of those famines. Let me tell you what it is and why it is the worst possible famine.
God said that He was sending a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. That kind of famine would not just bring an end to physical life, but it would ensure eternal death and separation from God. The words of the Lord are essential for our salvation. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) Without hearing the word of God we can't put our faith in Christ. "Without faith it is impossible to please God." (Hebrews 11:6) Faith is our response to the truth of God by believing it and trusting what it says, so that we do it. We can't do that if we do not hear the words of the Lord.
This is one reason that things are in such a grave condition in our country today. We seldom hear the words of the Lord. It seems to be getting less and less with every year that goes by. I pray that we will do what we can to share the words of the Lord in every way possible, so there won't be this type of famine in our land.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Amos 9, Obadiah, and Jonah 1.
God said that He was sending a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. That kind of famine would not just bring an end to physical life, but it would ensure eternal death and separation from God. The words of the Lord are essential for our salvation. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) Without hearing the word of God we can't put our faith in Christ. "Without faith it is impossible to please God." (Hebrews 11:6) Faith is our response to the truth of God by believing it and trusting what it says, so that we do it. We can't do that if we do not hear the words of the Lord.
This is one reason that things are in such a grave condition in our country today. We seldom hear the words of the Lord. It seems to be getting less and less with every year that goes by. I pray that we will do what we can to share the words of the Lord in every way possible, so there won't be this type of famine in our land.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Amos 9, Obadiah, and Jonah 1.