A Matter of Faith
I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. “Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? You shall take up Sikkuth your king, and Kiyyun your star-god—your images that you made for yourselves, and I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,” says the LORD, whose name is the God of hosts.
Amos 5:21–27
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A Matter of Faith
This is all a matter of faith. Correct worship without faith might as well be no worship at all. Worshiping the true God in faith leads to a change in the way the people of God live. However, corrupt worship will lead to corrupt lives. The sinful nature wants to have a god that it can set aside and come back to when it deems it necessary and ignore the rest of the time. It wants a god that conforms to its whims and wishes, answers prayers the way it wants them answered, and doesn’t mind when it skips out on receiving the Word preached and the Sacraments given. The Living God will not abide by the whims of men’s sinful nature. He will not be ignored and placed on a shelf for a more opportune time. The time is now. He will be worshiped with his Word preached and his Sacraments poured upon you. He will require of you everything about you. He promises to hear you, but he does not promise to give you everything you ask. He promises to treat you like a Son for the sake of his only begotten Son’s blood on the cross. Thus, he sends his Holy Spirit to plant faith, water faith, sustain faith, and prune and nourish faith in you and your life. It is only by the intervention of our God that we live. Thanks be to God that he has showered us with this love.
Amos 5:21–27
+
A Matter of Faith
This is all a matter of faith. Correct worship without faith might as well be no worship at all. Worshiping the true God in faith leads to a change in the way the people of God live. However, corrupt worship will lead to corrupt lives. The sinful nature wants to have a god that it can set aside and come back to when it deems it necessary and ignore the rest of the time. It wants a god that conforms to its whims and wishes, answers prayers the way it wants them answered, and doesn’t mind when it skips out on receiving the Word preached and the Sacraments given. The Living God will not abide by the whims of men’s sinful nature. He will not be ignored and placed on a shelf for a more opportune time. The time is now. He will be worshiped with his Word preached and his Sacraments poured upon you. He will require of you everything about you. He promises to hear you, but he does not promise to give you everything you ask. He promises to treat you like a Son for the sake of his only begotten Son’s blood on the cross. Thus, he sends his Holy Spirit to plant faith, water faith, sustain faith, and prune and nourish faith in you and your life. It is only by the intervention of our God that we live. Thanks be to God that he has showered us with this love.
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January
Responding to GodLamentationSeek GodThe Day of the LordA Matter of FaithThe Secure and the ComplacentThe Pride of the PeopleFrom Depths of WoeVisions of FireA Plumb LineAmaziahSummer FruitA Final VisionA Word of HopeA VisionHumiliationDisplacedStanding AloofHouse of FireRestorationHeeding God’s CallOverboardInside the Great FishFor a Second TimeMessage ReceivedNot FairA Lesson on MercyWho Is Like the Lord?O Earth!Then and NowLament
February
Courtroom DramaEnemies of GodThe Lord GathersFalse ProphetsZionRestorationWise MenIn, But Not OfGod’s ReproachSurvey the CrossLook to the LordVindicationThe Lord’s DeliveranceA Merciful HymnBack AgainLord’s Wrath and CareDoom and DeliveranceThe Enemies of GodOur ConquerorWoe to the City of BloodshedNo Other God’sAre You Better?Prophecy FulfilledThe Prophet SawHow Long?God in the MidstJustice ServedThe God of History
March
Waiting for an AnswerA Dire SituationA Twisting of the TruthIn His Image and In His LikenessThe Lord’s NameThe Sin of ManFear, Love, and TrustThe Day of SalvationThe Word of the LordThe Lord’s JudgmentClear and to the PointBe SilentThe Day of WrathSeek the LordGardensRunning After Other GodsSwordsThe Kingdoms of this WorldWhere is Your Trust?The Lord’s RemnantThe Truth of His WordThe Human HeartA Song of VictoryRebuildingObedienceSurpassing GloryA Faithful ResponseLooking to the FutureReturn to the Lord!A Performative WordFour Horns