Minor Prophets | Major Profit
Amos | True Justice
August 3, 2014 • Amos
We're continuing our series through the books of the Bible called "The Minor Prophets." Tomorrow, we'll focus our attention on the book of Amos. The big idea of the book is that God, as the just Judge of the Universe, cares about what we do with our lives and how we relate to the people around us. He cares about Justice. He wants His people to "do justice," which in Scripture includes sharing food, shelter, and basic resources with those who lack them. In particular, Amos reminds us that God cares how we relate to those who are vulnerable: the weak, sick, elderly, mentally and physically handicapped, refugees, immigrants, working poor, natural disaster victims, unemployed, single parents, widows, and orphans. One of the famous verses for the book is found in chapter 5, verse 24: "Let Justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." I pray for Mosaic Boston to continue to growing into a church from whom justice flows torrentially.
Micah | True Redemption
August 10, 2014 • Micah
We love stories about redemption, don't we? Just think about how many of your favorite books or movies boil down to stories about a person struggling to redeem themselves or someone else. If you look at IMDB's list of top 250 movies of all time, the #1 movie is the classic, "Shawshank Redemption." Then, as you make your way down the list, almost every other movie (arguably) is about redemption--a story of someone ingeniously and determinedly atoning for their mistakes and/or saving themselves or loved ones. Why is the plot line of redemption so compelling to our hearts? Could it be, because we long for our own redemption? Could it be, because we all long for another chance? Could it be, because we all long to be saved?
Habbakuk l True Happiness
August 17, 2014 • Habakkuk
When you think about "happiness," what's the first thing that comes to mind? What needs to be added to, or removed from, your life, for you to be truly happy? Now, if you reach this point of bliss, how do you sustain it? How do you protect it from all the evil and suffering in this world? How do you protect it from yourself? How do we find and sustain happiness in a world so full of sadness and brokenness? Who are the happiest people you've ever met? What made them happy? Prophets don't have a reputation for being happy. However, one of the surprisingly happiest prophets in the Bible is Habakkuk. He found a happiness which had absolute nothing to do with his circumstances (which were miserable). We'll be studying this short book tomorrow. It's only 3 chapters so definitely read through it today. His conclusion in chapter 3 is, though everything seems to be going wrong, "YET, I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength."