A BASKET OF RIPE FRUIT

Listen to God

We believe so many things absolutely have to be done, and, in addition, we do so many things because they are prompted by our secret motives, that our days and lives are too short. It does not follow that one first should fulfill his duty, then satisfy his own desires, and finally the time that remains listen to God. Generally not much time is left. It should be the other way around: First listen to God and place in His hands our entire lives. Only then will we be able to correctly apportion our time.With God, the person always comes first and, after that, things. Everything, even the sabbath, exists for the sake of humankind.

Text

Amos 8:1–8 CSB

1 The Lord God showed me this: a basket of summer fruit. 2 He asked me, “What do you see, Amos?” I replied, “A basket of summer fruit.” The Lord said to me, “The end has come for my people Israel; I will no longer spare them. 3 In that day the temple songs will become wailing”—this is the Lord God’s declaration. “Many dead bodies, thrown everywhere! Silence!” 4 Hear this, you who trample on the needy and do away with the poor of the land, 5 asking, “When will the New Moon be over so we may sell grain, and the Sabbath, so we may market wheat? We can reduce the measure while increasing the price and cheat with dishonest scales. 6 We can buy the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals and even sell the chaff!” 7 The Lord has sworn by the Pride of Jacob: I will never forget all their deeds. 8 Because of this, won’t the land quake and all who dwell in it mourn? All of it will rise like the Nile; it will surge and then subside like the Nile in Egypt.

PRAYER

Psalm 51:1-2 “Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.” Create in me a pure heart, dear God, and renew a right spirit within me. Amen.

MAIN POINTS

-God called Amos, a man of humble background, he took care of sheep and tended sycamore fig fruit. In TODAY’S CONTEXT- a farm men. A working men. No one in his family ever became a Priest or Prophet-

God Is Relatable

God showed Amos a basket of ripe fruit- something Amos could recognize from his experience of tending fig fruit. Using the imagery of his background to speak to him.

God can relate to us in our current setting, experiences and work- what are some imagines of your current background? Amos 8:1 “The Lord God showed me this: a basket of summer fruit.” God wanted to teach or revealed His sovereign Well to Amos by showing him an identifiable object, a basket of ripe fruit. RIPE FRUIT- that has g