Obedience Over Convenience

Amos 1:2

The book of Amos doesn’t pull any punches. It starts off immediately with a message of judgment. Before it gets into specific judgments for specific groups of people, it speaks to all of us – yes, even us today. Verse 2 tells us, “The Lord roars from Zion, and utters His voice from Jerusalem…” We may read this and skim over it with an idle thought that God speaking from Jerusalem in the Old Testament is obvious. This was where the temple was. It was the recognized seat of the Lord on earth. Of course this is where His voice to His people would originate. However, at the time of Amos, the people had created alternate worship sites. Despite the fact that God had commanded, “But you shall seek the place which the Lord your God will choose out of all your tribes to put His name and make his habitation there, thither you shall go, and thither you shall bring your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the offering that you present…” Deuteronomy 12:5-6), they had set up false ‘temples’ in Dan, Bethel, and Gilgal. This first statement was pointedly spoken to remind the people that those alternate sites of worship were rebellion against God’s commands.

I am so grateful that we were all born under the New Covenant. We no longer have the requirement that God can only be worshiped in one place. Instead, Jesus told us, “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” Our worship is not a physical butchering of animals. Jesus fulfilled the ultimate sacrifice and eliminated the need for such things. Now, we can worship everywhere we are. However, we are told to be a people committed to “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some.” The same issue the ancient Israelites dealt with is one we are tempted with as well: convenience. It was inconvenient for the ancient people to travel to one specific location. Sometimes gathering together is inconvenient. Sunday may be our only day off, or perhaps we work on this day. We have plans. We have obligations. We also have a responsibility to our God which in turn edifies our souls, expands our minds, and comforts our hearts. God calls us to obedience not convenience.

The second part of this verse is a reminder. Amos wrote, “the top of Carmel withers.” Years before, a prophet named Elijah stood upon the top of the mountain of Carmel and led a powerful demonstration against the prophets of a false god named Baal (1 Kings 18:19-40). He proved with definitive proof that idols possess no power while God is the very definition of power. Carmel withers because, though it was here that God’s power was put on display, the people had forgotten. How often do we limit God’s power despite the innumerable examples we have been given of His strength? Amos’s warning applies to us as well. Have we valued our convenience over our obedience? Have we forgotten His power and turned instead to things made of perishable worth? Judgment comes to get us back on track. Turn from your disobedience. Remember God’s promise, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

(Written by Keegan Harkins.)