He Won't Relent

As I was reading Amos 4-5 today, the Lord brought back to mind something I was thinking about a while ago. 

Basically the Lord was speaking to Israel (his chosen) recounting all the things He had put them through to get them to return to Him, this wasn’t just a few not fun things to go through, it was plagues,  draught, famine, destruction etc.  The Lord was doing anything and everything He could to get those who belong to Him to return to Him.  They had lost their way; they had forgotten who they really were and all about serving the Lord. 

It seems that in our lives today, we have an arrogant attitude.  Honestly I know I have thought this.  The “thought” being that because I am under grace and not the law, I can get away with anything, because we have grace now and we are covered.  We think that the Lord would never put us through anything like He did to the Israelites.  However, I really think that is a definite wrong way of thinking and of living.  I believe that there is a punishment, or chastening or whatever you would like to call it that makes you feel better.  I have seen what the Lord has put me through in my own life and even heard and seen what He has done in others lives.  I know that He will do whatever it takes to get us back.  Initially, I think that is so awesome that the Lord will woo me back to Him.  Which is awesome that He doesn’t give up, however, sometimes I would not call His means of getting us back wooing.  And as I think about things that I may have seen people around me go through and have seen some of what I have gone through, I know that the Lord does not just try to woo us back.  I’ve seen Him take everything away, and I mean everything just to get someone to return to Him. 

We need to begin to live our lives in a healthy fear of the Lord.  We need to realize that just because we are saved and have our way into heaven, doesn’t mean that we can do what we want.  We have to remember who the Lord is.  He makes the sun come up each day, and set each night.  He spoke the whole earth into creation, He knew us before we were in our mother’s womb.  And He will do WHATEVER it takes to get us back, He won’t relent!