ESOCS Devotional 30 March 2026 – Shall We Continue to Sin?
MEMORY VERSE: “He asked me, Amos, what do you see? A plum line, I answered. Then He said, I am using it to show that my people are like a wall that is out of line. I will not change my mind again about punishing them.” Amos 7:8 GNB
TEXT: AMOS 7:1-9
Thus the Lord God showed me: Behold, He formed locust swarms at the beginning of the late crop; indeed it was the late crop after the king’s mowings. 2 And so it was, when they had finished eating the grass of the land, that I said:
“O Lord God, forgive, I pray!
Oh, that Jacob may stand,
For he is small!”
3 So the Lord relented concerning this.
“It shall not be,” said the Lord.
4 Thus the Lord God showed me: Behold, the Lord God called for conflict by fire, and it consumed the great deep and devoured the territory. 5 Then I said:
“O Lord God, cease, I pray!
Oh, that Jacob may stand,
For he is small!”
6 So the Lord relented concerning this.
“This also shall not be,” said the Lord God.
7 Thus He showed me: Behold, the Lord stood on a wall made with a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand. 8 And the Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?”
And I said, “A plumb line.”
Then the Lord said:
“Behold, I am setting a plumb line
In the midst of My people Israel;
I will not pass by them anymore.
9 The high places of Isaac shall be desolate,
And the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste.
I will rise with the sword against the house of Jeroboam.”
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The grace of the cross of Christ has been taken for granted for too long among God’s people. Worried about this anomaly, Saint Paul cried out in Romans 6:1-2. He queried how long sinful humanity would continually dwell in iniquity, thereby rendering the grace of the cross of none effect. It is not acceptable to demonstrate so much commitment in God’s service with filthy hands stained with immorality. In 2 Kings 14:25-29, though King Jeroboam II achieved tremendous military success and economic prosperity for the nation, he also committed terrible blunders – by leading the people into idolatry. Moreover, gross wickedness was on the rising curve in Israel. Prophet Hosea and Amos spoke out powerfully against the sins of the people. They also prophesied the coming judgment. Yet the people would not give heed.
The Lord threatened to send swarming locusts; Amos pleaded for mercy, and the Lord forgave. The Lord also threatened to send devastating drought. Amos prayed for mercy, and the Lord changed His mind. But since the people would not change from their evil and wicked ways, the Lord Himself resolved not to overlook any more, (vv. 7-9; Amos 1, Hosea 1).
What we have seen in our text is not different from what goes on these days. Many believers have continued to live in sin, believing the blood of Jesus has settled all their debts to the Father. They have forgotten that Christ did not come to set the law aside. He rather came to ensure total fulfilment of the Laws of God (Matthew 7:17-18). Moreover, He only paid the price to lighten the load of sin for us. Therefore, harden not your hearts any longer. The time of judgment is at hand. Repent, and be wholly converted.
Reflections
- Christ’s death has paid our price. No law holds us anymore. Is this true?
Prayer
- Lord, grant me the grace to repent and be fully converted.
Further Reading: Isaiah 49:21-26; Matthew 25:13-28; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
ESOCS Devotional 30 March 2026
