THE TRUE TEST

"Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" (Amos 5:23-24, NIV)

Let's say you walked into the office of a local mortgage company to sign some papers for some property you were acquiring. On the wall of the loan officer's tidy little office are several posters of picturesque holes on world-famous golf courses.

"Wow, you must really love golf!" you say, striking up a side conversation.

"I do!" the loan officer responds. "I find every aspect of it fascinating. I love the design of the various architects. I love that it is outdoors in these gorgeous settings. And I think the game requires a varied set of skills that really test the players, even the best players."

"How often do you get out to play yourself?" you ask.

"Oh, I don't play," the loan officer replies. "Too hard for me."

I hope this hypothetical conversation strikes you as ridiculous. For there is little value in appreciating the game if you don't play it. You're missing the best part!

In the Old Testament prophecies of Amos we find one of God's most common laments about His people, Israel: Their words and their worship suggested an awareness of Him, but their lives displayed something quite different.

The true test of our faith is not whether we sing God's praises. Rather, the true test is whether we pursue what He pursues.

God desires justice; He expects us to implement it.

God requires righteousness; He looks for us to live like Christ.

God wants our undivided attention; He demands us to forsake other gods.

Yes, God is that serious about Himself, that zealous for our wholehearted faith in Him. Always, we must consider our own response to such an earnest Lord.

--

Jeff Hopper

May 4, 2007

Copyright 2007 Links Players International

The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.