The Journey 260: Seek Gof First
Read: Amos 5
Every person who uses a mobile phone or other electronic devices knows that when a phone a jammed or a device does not function properly there is a small button in the device that helps the device to function again properly. This button is called as the “Reset” button. If we touch the reset button on the device, the electronic device like the phone, or media player automatically reverts itself to the original factory setting. Anugrah Kumar, a Christian Post Contributor recently cited a speech by the well know actor and producer Kirk Cameron, who was speaking at the Values Voters Summit at Washington DC last Friday. The whole gist of the speech made by Kirk Cameroon was that if United States had to get out of the mess that this country is finding itself in, then it has to return to the original factory setting. What he meant was that one should listen to the principles set by the founding fathers of this great nation, who relied on wisdom that comes from faith in God and His Word. According to him, the principles that influenced the founding fathers and that should govern the nation that is the fruit of Faith which is Freedom, Morality, Law and Education. I think what Cameroon said is something that every individual needs to think about. In Genesis 1: 26, 27 we find that God made us in his own image, but now years after we have lived on this earth, I am sure if each one of us would evaluate our life and the way we live on this wonderful planet, I am sure we all would understand that it is high time that we have reset our life according the God’s plan and purpose of our life, which I call it as the original and the masterpiece plan. Resetting our lives…...
We are meditating on the theme “ Transformed Living” and the portion that we shall use for our meditation is from Amos 5. One of the main criticism that the prophet Amos directs against the nation of Israel is that they have taken the concept of election more as that of privilege rather that taking it as a sign of responsible, moral, holy and ethical living. According to the prophet, just because Israel has been elected by God, this does not mean that they will enjoy blessing all the time. Blessing from God come only when the people take the concept of election seriously and reorder their lives according to the commandment of God. The people of Israel instead of being faithful to God chose to live very immorally and unethically. The people were corrupt and justice and peace was never the hallmark of the Israelite society now. Every law was perverted to favour the rich and the society had become rotten and sick. It is in such a context that Amos opposes these unjust system and the immoral living in the most condemning manner. He tells the people of Israel that until they return back to God this nation is going to perish. A nation and a people who were elected by God has now chosen to live totally in opposition to God’s law. I think when we look at our life situation, if there were also some prophets today, they would also have condemned the way we have ordered our lives. We also live in such a way that we have corrupted all the areas of our life– personal, societal and also our life in the church. It is here that I believe Kirk Cameroon stand as a prophet when he tells that we need to reset our life back to the original setting. Let us take a decision that if we have missed God’s plan and purpose and if we are running away from God and are living our life in contradiction to the laws of God, what is needed for the hour is to “Reset” our life. Turning back to God is the need of the hour and this means let us press the “Reset” button in our life so that we can allow God to achieve his plan and purpose in our life. Do you feel the need to press the “Reset” button in your life? Then do it.
Rev. Dr. Joe Joseph Kuruvilla
Every person who uses a mobile phone or other electronic devices knows that when a phone a jammed or a device does not function properly there is a small button in the device that helps the device to function again properly. This button is called as the “Reset” button. If we touch the reset button on the device, the electronic device like the phone, or media player automatically reverts itself to the original factory setting. Anugrah Kumar, a Christian Post Contributor recently cited a speech by the well know actor and producer Kirk Cameron, who was speaking at the Values Voters Summit at Washington DC last Friday. The whole gist of the speech made by Kirk Cameroon was that if United States had to get out of the mess that this country is finding itself in, then it has to return to the original factory setting. What he meant was that one should listen to the principles set by the founding fathers of this great nation, who relied on wisdom that comes from faith in God and His Word. According to him, the principles that influenced the founding fathers and that should govern the nation that is the fruit of Faith which is Freedom, Morality, Law and Education. I think what Cameroon said is something that every individual needs to think about. In Genesis 1: 26, 27 we find that God made us in his own image, but now years after we have lived on this earth, I am sure if each one of us would evaluate our life and the way we live on this wonderful planet, I am sure we all would understand that it is high time that we have reset our life according the God’s plan and purpose of our life, which I call it as the original and the masterpiece plan. Resetting our lives…...
We are meditating on the theme “ Transformed Living” and the portion that we shall use for our meditation is from Amos 5. One of the main criticism that the prophet Amos directs against the nation of Israel is that they have taken the concept of election more as that of privilege rather that taking it as a sign of responsible, moral, holy and ethical living. According to the prophet, just because Israel has been elected by God, this does not mean that they will enjoy blessing all the time. Blessing from God come only when the people take the concept of election seriously and reorder their lives according to the commandment of God. The people of Israel instead of being faithful to God chose to live very immorally and unethically. The people were corrupt and justice and peace was never the hallmark of the Israelite society now. Every law was perverted to favour the rich and the society had become rotten and sick. It is in such a context that Amos opposes these unjust system and the immoral living in the most condemning manner. He tells the people of Israel that until they return back to God this nation is going to perish. A nation and a people who were elected by God has now chosen to live totally in opposition to God’s law. I think when we look at our life situation, if there were also some prophets today, they would also have condemned the way we have ordered our lives. We also live in such a way that we have corrupted all the areas of our life– personal, societal and also our life in the church. It is here that I believe Kirk Cameroon stand as a prophet when he tells that we need to reset our life back to the original setting. Let us take a decision that if we have missed God’s plan and purpose and if we are running away from God and are living our life in contradiction to the laws of God, what is needed for the hour is to “Reset” our life. Turning back to God is the need of the hour and this means let us press the “Reset” button in our life so that we can allow God to achieve his plan and purpose in our life. Do you feel the need to press the “Reset” button in your life? Then do it.
Rev. Dr. Joe Joseph Kuruvilla