A reminder of the importance of cherishing the words of God to sustain our spiritual life.
In certain parts of the world, famine is occurring due to ongoing civil wars, prolonged droughts or other various reasons. In the case of the Israelites during the period of the prophet Amos, they were facing impending famine due their unfaithfulness towards God and wickedness towards their own brethren. The famine they were going to face was unprecedented because it was “...not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.” (Amos 8:11). This famine of the word of God would also accompany the day of darkness which was filled with mourning, lamentation and bitterness (Amos 8:10). Even if at that point the people repented of their deceitfulness and oppression towards the poor (Amos 8:4-6), it was already too late. The summer fruit has already ripened, which represents “The end has come upon My people Israel; I will not pass by them anymore.” (Amos 8:1-2)
At that point, even those who wander from sea to sea, or run to and fro to the ends of the world, they will not find the word of the Lord (Amos 8:12). Today, how much do we cherish the words of God which are so readily accessible for us? In Singapore, we have various resources and opportunities to seek His words, which include sermons, sharings during morning prayers, CDBD articles and many more. Have we grabbed hold of these opportunities to learn more of His words? May we strive to sustain our spiritual life by reading, meditating, and living out Scripture, allowing God's truth to shape our hearts and actions.