Going to Jesus

Daily Thoughts

 Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:

• Collection

  Thoughts for the Morning Thoughts for the Evening Random Thoughts

• Month

  January February March April May June July August September October November December

• Day

  07-01 Free Indeed 07-02 The Testimony of the Lord 07-03 A Brute 07-04 A Change in Speakers 07-05 He Is Coming! 07-06 Of Judgment and Mercy 07-07 Favoring the City of God 07-08 A Heavenly Conversation 07-09 Commandments for a Place 07-10 Paul’s Gospel 07-11 All Things 07-12 Flattering Titles 07-13 The Grief of the Wicked 07-14 “The Times That Went over David and Israel.” 07-15 The Law is Holy 07-16 The Simplicity that is in Christ 07-17 “The Manner of the Jews” 07-18 The Law was Prophetic, AND IT STILL IS! 07-19 Wanted by Carnally Minded Men: The Flesh, Dead or Alive,or,
  Why Do You Seek the Living Among the Dead? 07-20 A Psalm 119 Imitation 07-21 Fourteen More Years 07-22 “Lord”, or “Lord”? 07-23 “Personal Lord and Savior” 07-24 Can the World Hate You? 07-25 “Into All the World” 07-26 Coals of Fire 07-27 1Corinthians 11 07-28 Who Are You Going to Kiss? 07-29 The Sacrifices of Israel 07-30 At Ease in Zion 07-31 The Beginning of Judgment

 

Random Thought
7-30

At Ease in Zion

“Woe to them that are at ease in Zion”
Amos 6:1

“Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those who are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.”
Psalm 123:4

The Lord cried out through Amos, “Woe to them who are at ease in Zion!” But who are the ones “at ease” among God’s saints? The answer to that question can be deduced from comments made in several Scriptures. One is from Amos himself. Here is how he described those who were “at ease in Zion”:

Amos 6

1. Woe to those who are at ease in Zion . . .

. . .

3. Those who deny the evil day, you invite violence to dwell nearby.

4. Those who lie on ivory couches, relaxed upon their divans eating the rams from the flock and calves of the stall.

5. Those who compose on the harp; like David, they invent musical instruments for themselves.

6. Those who drink by bowls of wine, and anoint with the finest of oils, but they are not grieved for the ruin of Joseph.

“Joseph” was a name used in the Old Testament for the children of Israel who had forsaken God’s law. They were the northern tribes of Israel who followed a man-made religion instead of the law of Moses, a religion that a king named Jeroboam invented for them, long before Amos was sent to call them back to their God. “Zion” referred to God’s chosen place of worship, Jerusalem. The children of Israel who lived in the southern part of Canaan still worshiped in God’s chosen place and still recognized the authority of the law of Moses. But they were not grieved for their fellow Israelites who had gone astray. They were at ease; they were comfortable and secure in their knowledge that they were doing things the right way and that their northern kinsmen were in the wrong. They were proud of worshiping in Jerusalem and of maintaining the ancient rule that God had once given to all His children at Mt. Sinai.

Notice that Amos’ warning was not to the ones who had rejected God’s law and rejected God’s chosen city, Jerusalem. The warning was to those who still observed the law and revered the holy city and went to Solomon’s temple that was in Jerusalem. They were enjoying the benefits that obedience brings, but were not grieved for the children of God who were being led astray and were headed for certain destruction.

Job warned his “miserable comforters” not to be proud against those who were drifting away from righteousness. He said to them, “He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a despised lamp in the thought of him that is at ease” (Job 12:5).

All of God’s children are lamps; they have the anointing oil of the holy Spirit within them. Some of them are not shining very brightly because their oil has run low. They are no longer lights to the world because love for the world has dimmed their flame. But Jesus can restore to them the brightness of his life. He lifts up, and he casts down. He can make them clean and whole again in his sight, and he will bring low all who despised them when they were fallen. Paul cautioned all of us who are in the family of God not to become proud against those who are struggling spiritually, for God is watching and judging us all:

Galatians 6

1. Brothers, if a man be overtaken in some transgression, restore such a one in a spirit of meekness, you who are spiritual, considering yourself, lest you also be tempted.

2. Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way fulfill the law of Christ.

The Good Shepherd will leave the “ninety and nine” sheep who are safely in the fold and risk his life to find the one who is lost. That is the heart of God and the heart of His Son. And it is the heart of all God’s children who are like their heavenly Father.

If you have wandered off the right path, you may feel unclean, but you are wanted by your Father. You are missed by all in Zion who are not at ease, but are grieved for your trouble. That is why there is “great joy” among the inhabitants of heaven whenever a wayward soul repents. And there will be great joy among saints on earth who know you when they see you turn again toward Zion, your home.