Just as a master craftsman measures twice for accuracy, so GOD has measured His people.  He has set the standard and Israel has been found wanting and as a disobedient and rebellious people is to be put to the sword of judgment and justice.   He is the standard and there is none righteous, for all have sinned and come short of the Glory of GOD.  No one measures up, and it is only by GOD's grace and mercy that we are offered a chance at redemption.  While there is still time now to repent and surrender to GOD on His terms, there is coming a day when there will be no more chances; either because of death, or the Lord's return.  He will judge all people against the Plumbline of His Word, and just as Israel was judged and destroyed; so will all those that have rejected the Lord Jesus Christ be separated from GOD forever in the second death. 

He is not willing that any should perish, but wants all to repent and come to the knowledge of the Truth.  He offers this free gift of salvation because He loves each and every one of us.  But we must repent and receive Him by Faith.  Faith in His Word, His finished work on the Cross of Calvary, and Faith that Jesus is who He says He is as GOD Himself.   Let today be your new birthday.

If you are one of those that is already forgiven and faithful, tell others of His love for them, that they might be saved.

In Christ,
Jefferson A. Sweet

GOD continues His admonition against Israel and Judah for their rebellion against Him.  The Northern kingdom is in complete idolatry and will soon be overrun, the southern kingdom's destruction will be delayed because of their occasional repentance and return to GOD.  Here He calls to His people to seek good, that is GOD; and to do good, Godly acts of equity and justice that their nation and themselves will live both in this world and the next.  This warning was not heeded by the majority, but a remnant was faithful; especially in the south.  All twelve tribes were present in Judah, and some of them remained faithful and obeyed GOD.  Because of that GOD had mercy and did not utterly destroy the kingdom of Judah, even when Babylon came and conquered the land. 

The Lord Jesus Christ, speaks to us today when He says to seek good, to hate evil, and to establish judgment.  When we seek Him who is good, when we repent of evil and completely surrender to Him on His terms, we can be saved.   We find mercy at His hands, even with the judgment that is already upon us.  GOD is not willing that anyone perish, He wants us to know Him and love Him.  But, He also wants us to fear Him: fear His justice and judgement because He is a righteous Judge and has the power to destroy us, but also to give proper reverence of His righteousness and holiness.

I pray that you will respond to His call to you; not a threat to destroy, but an invitation to receive His free gift of forgiveness and mercy.

And if you are one of His, tell someone today of the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

In Christ,
Jefferson A. Sweet

The prophet has good advice to his people, and all those that oppose and disobey GOD.  REPENT.  Seek Him while He may be found.  Jesus; who made all the stars, the Pleiades (Seven stars) and the stars in Orion; who watches over both day and night; and controls the waves of the seas; calls us all to repent and surrender to Him on His terms.  Just as He pronounces judgment on the Nation of Israel, and the other nations that opposed Him; so He has judged all of us and found us guilty.  Guilty of breaking His commands, guilty of unrighteousness, guilty of injustice; for we are all sinners and already condemned.  And only in Christ can we find forgiveness and be born again.  GOD tells us that we must be born again, and those who are only born once will die twice.  But He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked and is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the truth.  He says today is the day of salvation, and now is the appointed time.  Don't say no to GOD when He calls you to believe and repent that you might be saved.

I urge you to respond to GOD today; and if you are already one of His, tell others of His great Love and free gift of Salvation.

In Christ,
Jefferson A. Sweet

Even the so-called chosen people of GOD are not immune from His judgment when they abandon His principles and commandments.  The pronouncements of GOD against those that are in disobedience to His laws included His own because of their sIn and rebellion.  Their sIn had gotten so bad that GOD punished them as well as the nations around them.  The fulfillment of these pronouncements occurred when Israel was scattered and Judah was conquered and taken into captivity.  But GOD was not finished with His people, and has begun to gather them back into the land for a future restoration of His chosen people.  From all nations He will restore and reunite the twelve tribes once again even while the world oppresses them until the final ingathering and future Kingdom.  When the Church is removed and the false Messiah has his turn, GOD will fight to save His people once again, until all things are restored.

Until that day, GOD continues to pronounce justice and judgment on all mankind because all have sinned against Him, and all are guilty and already under condemnation.  Because we have all transgressed His Holy Law and violated His commands.  Only in Jesus Christ can we be delivered and given mercy and grace.  It is because of the Cross of Calvary that those that repent and receive Him on His terms can be saved.  Without the freedom and forgiveness that Jesus offers to all who will come, we are destined for a devils Hell and the Lake of Fire, separated from GOD for all eternity.  Don't let that be your fate.  He calls you to repentance and deliverance today.

And to those that already have freedom in Christ, fulfill His Commission and share this Good News with someone today.

As we move on our 'minor' journey into the book of Amos we now have a series of prophecies against the nations that opposed Israel and Judah.  Here GOD speaks against Syria.  It is a reminder that no matter what seems to be going on now, GOD has a plan and will carry it out.  The destruction of Syria is coming, and its people and leaders will be subjugated  and terrorized as they are doing to others now.  It's not 'karma' just GOD putting forth judgment on those that have oppressed His people.  He says He will have vengeance, and we can leave retribution to Him because of that.  He will fulfill all His prophecies and promises. 

Also, just as He cuts off nations because of their actions against Him, so shall He cut off people that reject GOD and His Word.  Those that die without Jesus Christ will be cast away from His presence, because He is Holy and Righteous and cannot abide sIn in His presence.  When He finally destroys Syria, it is only after every attempt for its people to repent and receive Him and they have refused to surrender to GOD.  But that time is not yet, GOD is not willing that any should perish and so calls all men everywhere to repent, surrendering themselves to Him on His terms and receive His free gift of salvation while there is still time.  Don't wait until a more convenient season that may never come.  Receive Jesus Christ today.

And if you are already safe in His loving arms, tell someone else the message of Hope and redemption today.

In Christ,
Jefferson A. Sweet

This passage is describing part of the final battle of the tribulation, in which all the gentile armies come against GOD and the people of GOD.  He delivers Israel, and will destroy all those that oppose Him there at the valley of Jehoshaphat.  His judgment is likened to a harvest, a harvest of wrath and wickedness.  Because of their sIn and hatred for GOD and the things of GOD, He calls them to make a decision.  Either take up arms against Almighty GOD or repent and surrender to Him on His terms.  The outcome is not what this army expected.  The Lord Jesus Christ comes down and with His Word destroys all those that oppose Him, because He is Judge of the whole world.

He calls us to the same decision: Continue to battle against GOD, or repent and receive Him.  Your future after death depends on your choice.  There will not be another chance then.  There will not be time to work off or pay for your sIn in this life.  You will face judgment before Jesus Christ and be separated from Him forever if you die in your sIns.  Your choice is clear.  Your destiny is sure, and His desire for you is to be saved.  He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rejoices in the salvation of the lost.  Be found in Him today.

If you walk in the Light as He is in the Light, share that light with others that they might see.

In Christ,
Jefferson A. Sweet

This familiar passage was the text for Peter's sermon at Pentecost.  It's was partial fulfilled in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the establishment of the Church.  The final fulfillment of this passage will come to pass at some time in the future when GOD ends the Church age and returns His complete attention on the Nation and people of Israel.  Following the rapture which removes His ambassadors from this world, He will reign judgment down on it, and restore His people to Himself once again.  This final ingathering is a coherent theme throughout these 'minor' prophets.

GOD has never abandoned the people of Isreal.  They abandoned Him when they rejected their Messiah during His first appearance.  But all that happened during His first time on this earth happened at the determined purpose of GOD and provided the way for our salvation.  ALL those that repent and receive His free gift by faith will be saved.  A salvation that removes the penalty for our sIn, and gives us eternal life that is now, not just 'by-and-by'.  This is a promise that gives us hope.  Hope in this world, that He is in control and will accomplish all that He wants done.  Hope in the next for we will be with Him.

I pray that whoever you are, whatever your circumstances you will acknowledge your need of Jesus Christ and come to know Him today.  And if you already do, you will share Him with all you meet.

In Christ,
Jefferson A. Sweet

We have now arrived at the prophecies of Joel on our journey through the 'minor' prophets.  Here GOD is telling those with an ear to hear of His judgment on the world and on Israel in that great and final Day of the Lord, which will begin when the rapture of the Church occurs, and finish when all of Israel is gathered in to its place of safety and rescued by our Lords return to this earth to reign and rule from Jerusalem.  But it is also a desire on GOD's part for His people to reject the ritualism of religion and repent that they might be in a true relationship with Him by faith in Him as the Messiah that would deliver them.  A deliverance that is primarily spiritual in nature  because of our sIn that separates us from GOD, though there is a future physical deliverance to come.

While He is a loving GOD that desires a relationship and a restoration of all things, He cannot allow sIn to remain and it must be paid for in blood.  Those that repent of their sIn and receive Jesus Christ, believing in His finish work on the Cross will live, a new creature in Christ. Those that reject His free gift will be cast away from His presence forever.  It is just, because we have all sinned.  It is also love, because He has paid His own price for our sIn.  Receive Him today. 

If you already know Him and rest in His security, tell others about the forgiveness and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

In Christ,
Jefferson A. Sweet

As GOD winds down His sentence against Israel for its sIn and rebellion, He gives this prophecy that can only happen when GOD restores all of Israel to its former glory and rules it when He is here once again.  And just as the prophecies of His first coming have come to pass, so shall this (and others still to be fulfilled.)  GOD will restore Israel as a nation and a people.   He will heal and revive the Jewish people because they return unto Him.  He still cares for His chosen people.

He chose them, not because they were the mightiest, or the biggest, or the greatest nation; but because of the opposite of all those, so that He would get the Glory in what He would do in and through them.  Just as He wants to do with each of us.  He loves us and wants what is best for us.  He wants to restore the relationship we had with Him in Adam.  But He can only do that if we repent and receive His Son, Jesus Christ by faith in His finished work on the Cross of Calvary.

Don't wait until tomorrow to believe Jesus Christ has paid the penalty for your sIns.  He wants to give you an eternal and abundant life today.

If you know Him, share Him with those that don't that they might have life.

In Christ,
Jefferson A. Sweet

This is part of the continual prophecy and pronouncement against the northern kingdom of Israel.  It is GOD's desire that everyone repent and return unto Him.  His people especially should be working and loving as He is.  The Lord Jesus Christ commands everyone to repent of their sIn, and He has commissioned His people to reach those that are without in this present world.  A world that is under as much judgment for sIn as Israel was, and will be judged.  GOD's wrath will be poured out and this present world will experience the tribulation that is deserved because of sIn.  The people of this world, that GOD says are children of wrath, will also be judged because they have denied the Lord Jesus and gone their own way.  A way that seems right, but is the way of death.  In fact, GOD says they are already under condemnation; because they have not believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Those that have not repented of their sIn, placed their faith in the finished work on the Cross, and received Jesus Christ in complete surrender to Him are 'dead men walking'.  Jesus said, "ye must be born again"

I pray that you will hear this Word from the Lord and respond to Him today.  And if you are already one of His, tell someone of His love for all of us.

In Christ,
Jefferson A. Sweet