Seek God and Live
Open Your Bible
Amos 5:1-17, Isaiah 55:6-7, Colossians 3:1-17
BY Beverly Berrus
In 1960, 50 percent of infants and one out of three pregnant women died after childbirth in what is now the United Arab Emirates. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan invited medical professionals to help. Two Christian missionaries, Drs. Pat and Marian Kennedy, answered the call.
With time, birth rates improved, and mothers and babies survived. They even opened a hospital where future rulers would be born. They served the Emirati people before there were big cities, major roads, and even stable electricity, proclaiming the love of Christ with their words and actions. It was evident that they were driven by compassionate love, not personal gain.
The Sheikh noted that these Christians came before the UAE gained wealth from oil. Because of their actions, this Muslim ruler granted religious protections to Christians living in the UAE.
God wants His people to be a life-giving presence wherever they go, much like the Kennedys. The Israelites of Amos’s day, however, demonstrated the opposite. Claiming to be God’s people, they committed wicked acts of injustice, brutally oppressing, cheating, and corrupting other image-bearers. So God pronounced fatal judgments upon them for their “crimes” and “sins innumerable” (Amos 5:12). Instead of contributing to the flourishing of society, the Israelites were like a plague—bringing decay, destruction, and death.
Society may reject the message of God’s people, but it shouldn’t be able to deny a concern for goodness, justice, and compassionate love in our actions. If God, who is holy and righteous, cares about these things, then we, as His people, must care about them too.
God warned the Israelites to seek Him and live; to pursue good, reject evil, and establish justice (Amos 5:6,14–15). In essence, He graciously called them to repent and return to Him while He may still be found (Isaiah 55:6).
Here’s the irony: by God asking sinful people to seek Him, He was seeking them first. And hasn’t that always been the case?
The Lord pursued you and me while we were still sinners. What should our daily response be to God’s initiating love in Christ? Letting His kindness drive us to joyful repentance again and again (Romans 2:4).
And with His help and grace, let us continue to seek the things above, where Jesus is (Colossians 3:1). When we set our minds on Him, our lives will align with His heavenly priorities. Are we pursuing good, establishing justice, and rejecting evil as God’s people? Our presence should encourage the thriving of others—in our homes, workplaces, communities, and countries. Sisters, seek God and live. Seek God so that others may live as well.
38 thoughts on "Seek God and Live"
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14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. – Colossians 3:14 what a great reminder. My very best friend since I was a little girl was raised Mormon and I was raised Catholic. Although our religious views are different we have one very big thing in common… we love our savior Jesus Christ. In the town we both grew up in (Cody, Wy) the LDS community has decided to build a temple there. If you’ve ever seen a Mormon temple they are fairly huge but also very beautiful and well kept. Well so many people from our town are in an uproar about it ruining the sky line and causing light pollution (even though this temple would be on a much smaller scale) and have been so cruel to this LDS community. It makes me sad that these people call themselves Christians yet continue to bash this poor Mormon community. The placement of this temple is off in the distance so it wouldn’t even be noticeable from every angle. I pray they can be kind and understanding to these people. If you don’t want something built in your town that’s one thing but to just bash who they are as people is another. @RHONDA J and SEARCHING thank you so much for the comments! It means a lot that it has impacted somebody along the way :)! Happy Friday ladies!
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Good morning happy Friday! I need a clock in at this very moment, but this is my prayer here at my workplace. There’s so much injustice just in my area and it makes it so hard sometimes please pray for me.
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Thank you, Beverly, for such a great devotional. A couple of things that jumped out at me: “Society may reject the message of God’s people,” (it feels like this is where we’re at in society),” but it shouldn’t be able to deny a concern for goodness, justice, and compassionate love in our actions. If God, who is holy and righteous, cares about these things, then we, as His people, must care about them too.” I hope my friends and neighbors see this in my actions, but sometimes I think I am just too busy with my own things. My other favourite part from today’s reading is “by asking sinful people to seek Him, He was seeking them first.” And what should our response be, asks Beverly. “Letting His kindness drive us to joyful repentance again and again.” Thank you Lord for pursuing me! Thank you for your kindness!
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Help me Lord to always keep my focus on you and not the distractions around me. May I be able to discern what is important to you. That you for the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide me in my daily v walk!
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Seek me and live! Seek the Lord and live. Pursue good and not evil. It seems there is so much evil out in the world today. And as Amos said, “they despise the one who speaks with integrity.” I see that where I live. There was a young man in our Old Town with a sign that said, “F&*% Christians”. It hurt my heart to see this. I’m praying I will become stronger in being a godly presence. That I can encourage others to seek Him as well. That my actions will align with my beliefs. That I can stand strong in my faith and not waver to whatever is going on around me. As Beverly said, “are we pursuing good, establishing justice, and rejecting evil as God’s people?” Lots to ponder on.
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It sounds so simple,”Seek the Lord and live” yet so many of the lost pay no attention and as believers we often fall into the pattern of Israel – sin, judgement, repentance – repeat. God has nothing but good for us. It should be so easy to live each day for Him, yet time after time we fail. The answer – set our hearts and minds on heavenly things – fix our minds on heaven. What are “heavenly things”, or “things that are above”? Goodness, mercy, compassion, obedience, love, eternal life, Jesus! A good way to “set our minds”, is to memorize scripture and recite it to ourselves throughout the day. This is something I’m currently working on – which I might add, is a lot harder now than it was 20 years ago! As we read, ponder and memorize the Word, it will dwell in us richly and then we in turn can teach it to others (Colossians 3:16).
Praying for you all, especially each request as I come to it. Have a wonderful Friday ya’all!
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ALL GOD AND CHRIST WANT us to do is to seek them FIRST. They WILL supply our every NEED, not necessarily our wants, but YES OUR NEEDS. God’s love for us is so great that not only did He send Christ, Who died for our sins, but God continually is forgiving us for our wrongs and sins. Now that is TRUE LOVE.
Be blessed and NEVER FORGET God LOVES AND FORGIVES us all no matter what we do, say, or think if we ask for forgiveness sisters.
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I just have to say I have never really read Amos a lot. But WOW! This is a HUGE wake up call, for the then and now!❤️
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