Amos
5:18-24 - Through Amos God is speaking, “I hate, I despise....” Can God hate? Is He not loved? Since God is
a personality, He has, like us, the capacity to hate as well as to love. In
fact, if one cannot hate, one cannot love.
But what or
whom does God hate? It is not “whom”
but “what.” Always He loves the
sinner but not the sin. God hates our wickedness, our insincere worship, and
our religiosity, “feasts,” “solemn assemblies,” “noises of your songs.” God
hates your hypocrisy. If God hates sin, should Christians not also do the same?
One caveat
and a word of warning. Do you find God hating all the things you only hate? These
words of Amos give us pause to examine our own hearts and motives. We need to
pray with the Psalmist, “Create in me a
clean heart o God.”-Psalm 51:10-19 We ought to be images of the Lord’s
justice and mercy. If God only behaves and acts more like you – you might have
a problem.
Collect for Sunday O Lord, we
pray that the visitation of Your grace may so cleanse our thoughts and minds
that Your Son Jesus, when He shall come, may find in us a fit dwelling place;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Today is Election Day. In our prayers we pray
for our country and us as citizens who have been granted the privilege to vote.
As you exercise this right guaranteed in our constitution to citizens ponder
the duty, honor and opportunities these rights give you.
A prayer for our nation: Almighty God, You have given us this good
land as our heritage. Grant that we remember Your generosity and constantly
do Your will. Bless our land with honest industry, truthful education, and an
honorable way of life. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from
pride and arrogance, and from every evil course of action.
Grant that we, who came from many nations with many different languages, may become a united people. Support us in defending our liberties and give those to whom we have entrusted the authority of government the spirit of wisdom, that there may be justice and peace in our land. When times are prosperous, may our hearts be thankful, and in troubled times do not let our trust in you fail.
For Good Government: Eternal Lord, Ruler of all, graciously
regard those who have been set in positions of authority among us that they may
be guided by your Spirit, be high in purpose, wise in counsel, firm in good
resolution, and unwavering in duty, that under them we may be governed quietly
and peaceably; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
For Responsible Citizenship: Lord, keep this nation under your care.
Bless the leaders of our land that we may be a people at peace among ourselves
and a blessing to the other nations of the earth. Help us provide trustworthy
leaders, contribute to wise decisions for the general welfare, and thus serve
you faithfully in our generation to the honor of your holy name;; through Jesus
Christ, our Lord. [3]
[1] The Ten
Virgins copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[2] The
United States Flag copyright © Google images
[3] All Prayers
from Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House, St, Louis
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