RE Verse reading–Amos 4:1-5, 5:1-24 (day three) “Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord!. . . That day will be darkness, not light” (5:18) It is a disturbing idea! People can be mistaken about their spiritual condition. Perhaps not with justification, given the warnings of prophecy and scripture, but even so, Amos spoke of people who longed for the Day of the Lord only to be surprised later by its darkness. Jesus knew the same truth. In Matthew 7, He describes people who say with astonishment, “Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in your name?” “I never knew you” will be His terrifying reply. (vs 22-23) Treated carefully, this idea can be a blessing. “Test yourself to see if you are in the faith”, said Paul (2 Corinthians 13:5). Allowing this fear to send us back and back to the Lord in honest encounter and repentance will prevent the danger from being true of us. Warning! Even people in church can be deceived.
