Free at last!

Yes, after a 30-day ban on Facebook, this exile has been allowed to come in from the cold! During such a lengthy spell, I missed being able to send greetings to many who celebrated their birthday anniversaries; I missed being able to congratulate a few friends on wedding anniversaries; I was unable to immediately congratulate on the occasions of a couple of births; and I was unable to send condolences in the cases of a couple of deaths. To all concerned, please accept my apology, and my belated greetings/condolences. 

So, what can I say on this first post in a full month? Well, I could comment on the Old (or First) Testament book of the prophet Amos. It's a book that has provided us with a number of well-known, and memorable, phrases: "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?" (3:3). (Facebook certainly doesn't seem to think so!). "Prepare to meet your God." (4:12). (And He is 'your God' whether, or not, you acknowledge Him!). "Let justice run down like water." (5:24). (But there is no apparent sense of justice within the fiefdom of Facebook!).

However, the phrase in the prophecy of Amos that is most often repeated, occurs five times in just one chapter - chapter 4. Time after time, YHWH speaks of all that He has done to discipline His wayward, self-indulgent, people and draw them back to Himself. In every case, He states, the result is the same: "You have not returned to Me." (4: 6, 8-11).

We may read of, and marvel at, the hardness of heart of those contemporary Children of Israel - but surely we must ask if we are any different! If we have sensed that the Lord has been trying to 'get our attention', how have we responded to Him?

Amos, in his prophetic book, shares warnings of judgement; of captivity; of destruction. However, there are also calls for repentance, and promises of restoration. "Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; so YHWH Elohim Sabaoth will be with you." (5:14). The book has many memorable phrases - but we should never forget the invitation of Father God to all who have wandered away from Him: "Return to Me". 

Facebook sends those with whose perspectives it disagrees, into "exile". Jesus, the Christ, issues the invitation: "Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden , and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." (Matt 11:28-30). 

Turn, or return. Just ensure that you are in the right relationship with Almighty God, through faith in the Lord Jesus, and be filled with new life in God the Holy Spirit. You will never regret it if you do!