Overwhelmed by Love – Start The Day

“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. ²And 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!” ³So the Lord relented concerning this. “It shall not be,” said the Lord. ⁴Thus the Lord God showed me: Behold, the Lord God called for conflict by fire, and it consumed the great deep and devoured the territory. ⁵Then I said: “O Lord God, cease, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, for he is small!” So the Lord relented concerning this. “This also shall not be,” said the Lord God. ⁷Thus He showed me: Behold, the Lord stood on a wall made with a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand. ⁸And 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. ⁹The 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.”” Amos 7:1-9 NKJV

“Though they go into captivity before their enemies, from there I will command the sword, and it shall slay them. I will set My eyes on them for harm and not for good.” Amos 9:4 NKJV

God of eternity,

Amaziah the priest of Bethel, sent to Jeroboam the king of Israel, decrying Amos’s words and saying they could not stand to hear him. No response to the call to repent, (chapter 5) to seek You, God and live. It may have been 20 to 30 years for Amos to be proved right – but he was.

Interesting questions You ask Amos. As punishment which is prefered? Starvation, fire or to be measured against perfection and laid waste? It is a relevant today to those who refuse to hear You. Starve from not eating the bread of life, fire of hell from refusing Jesus or being measured against God’s goodness and found wanting? Trusting in luck or themselves or their good deeds.

Amos is the beginning of the end of the story for Israel. There is nothing to do about it but learn from history. Families divided by power struggles = all suffer. Rebelling against God and selfish desires never make us richer or happier. Not listening to Your chasteing can lead us deeper into trouble. But. There is always a way to return to You God. You are always welcoming to the prodigal and the faithful jealous son (Luke 15:11–32) into Your arms. There is always forgiveness for those who repent (Ephesians 1:7). Your love does not run out or bypass us. We may not feel loveable but we are loved (Jeremiah 31:3). Confirm it to our hearts and our heads Father God.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 6th June 2026
Worth a repeat this year as it is such wonderful worship, an exchange of love through Jesus.

Overwhelmed by love
Deeper than oceans
High as the heavens
Ever living God
Your love has rescued me

All my sin was laid
On Your dear son
Your precious one
All my debt He paid
Great is Your love for me

No-one could ever earn Your love
Your grace and mercy is free
Lord these words are true
So is my love for You

Lyrics: Noel Richards

“If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, ⁴then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. ⁵Your threshing shall last till the time of vintage, and the vintage shall last till the time of sowing; you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. ⁶I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid; I will rid the land of evil beasts, and the sword will not go through your land. ⁷You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you. ⁸Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you. ⁹‘For I will look on you favourably and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm My covenant with you. ¹⁰You shall eat the old harvest, and clear out the old because of the new. ¹¹I will set My tabernacle among you, and My soul shall not abhor you. ¹²I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people. ¹³I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves; I have broken the bands of your yoke and made you walk upright.”
Leviticus 26:3-13 NKJV

The Lord our God,

Those who translated our Bible chose to put a heading on this chapter which reads Promise of Blessing and Retribution. I had not realised till a few years ago Lord these headings were added later to help us navigate and find passages. Well today we have the blessings, and we see again what a generous God You were.

You literally came and walked among us and adopted us and Jesus led us out of captivity to sin . Not guilty in Christ, that is an incredible miracle.

It is good as the old hymn says to count our blessings. And it would take some time to list mine and remember all the times You have provided, guided, protected, and been there in my troubles. It is overwhelming. They are Your blessings which You deliver in person. Thank you.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 8th February 2026