Pursuing Righteousness: The Call to Seek Good
"Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph." - Amos 5:14-15

As we pause to reflect on the profound wisdom contained within the words of Amos 5:14-15, we are invited into a deeper understanding of our purpose and calling as followers of Christ. The Scripture states, "Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph."
Amos, a minor prophet in the Old Testament, speaks to a society steeped in injustice and moral decay. His message transcends time, calling us back to the heart of God amidst a world that often celebrates the very evil it should abhor. To seek good is not merely a suggestion but a command, a rallying cry for the people of God to embrace righteousness wholeheartedly. In a world consumed by darkness, this call reverberates with urgency, encouraging us to make conscious choices that align with the character of our Creator.
### Seeking the Good
To seek good means to actively pursue that which reflects God’s nature. It requires intentionality, a commitment to engage our hearts and lives with the things of righteousness. This pursuit involves not only our actions but our thoughts and attitudes. In Philippians 4:8, Paul encourages us to think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. Our motivation must stem from a love for God, as we recognize that in seeking good, we are participating in His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).
### The Promise of God’s Presence
The latter part of verse 14 gives us a promise: "...and so the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken." The beauty of seeking good is that it aligns us with God's presence. When we actively pursue what is good, we find ourselves in close fellowship with Him. This is not a mere transactional relationship but one rooted in trust and love. His grace encompasses those who are committed to righteousness, giving assurance that even in tumultuous times, we are never alone.
### The Call to Hate Evil
Furthermore, Amos instructs us to "Hate the evil, and love the good." In our society, where morality often shifts like sand, we are to take a definitive stand against what God abhors. There’s an urgency to recognize evil for what it is—an affront to God’s holiness and a cancer to the fabric of society. Hate is a strong word, but it emphasizes the depth of our commitment to goodness.
The word “love” in this context is not passive; it is an active engagement. Loving good means striving to embody it, to promote it, and to cultivate an environment where goodness thrives. This commitment extends beyond individual actions; it calls us to establish judgment in the gate, ensuring that justice prevails in our communities. Establishing judgment requires not only speaking out against injustice but also taking meaningful steps to embody and promote righteousness.
### The Remnant of Joseph
Finally, we are reminded that our choices have implications not just for ourselves but for future generations. "It may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph." In a time where moral decay seems prevalent, there remains a faithful remnant. When we seek good and establish righteousness, we become part of that remnant—a group that upholds God’s standards and invites His grace into our midst.
### Conclusion
In closing, let us ponder the significance of Amos’s message in our lives today. As we navigate the complexities of a world often opposed to God’s will, may we be diligent in seeking good and promoting justice. Let us commit ourselves to hating evil and loving the good wholeheartedly. As we do so, let us rest in the promise that our labor in the light will not go unnoticed. We can trust that the Lord, the God of hosts, will indeed be with us, leading us toward a life of abundance, grace, and fulfillment in Him.
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Amos 5:14-15 Artwork
Amos 5:14-15 - "Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph."
"Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph." - Amos 5:14-15
James 5:14-15
Amos 5:15 - "Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph."
Amos 5:14 - "Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken."
Amos 7:14 - "¶ Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:"
Amos 5:21-27
"Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph." - Amos 5:15
"Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken." - Amos 5:14
Amos 1:15 - "And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith the LORD."
Amos 5:24 - "But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream."
Amos 5:13 - "Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time."
Amos 5:10 - "They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly."
Amos 5:20 - "Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?"
Amos 6:5 - "That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;"
Amos 5:7 - "Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth,"
Amos 2:5 - "But I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem."
Amos 5:17 - "And in all vineyards shall be wailing: for I will pass through thee, saith the LORD."
Amos 5:9 - "That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress."
Amos 5:5 - "But seek not Beth-el, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beer-sheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Beth-el shall come to nought."
"¶ Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:" - Amos 7:14
Amos 5:4 - "¶ For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:"
Amos 5:21 - "I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies."
Amos 1:14 - "But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:"
Amos 7:15 - "And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel."
Amos 5:25 - "Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?"
Amos 5:23 - "Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols."
Amos 5:18 - "Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light."
Amos 5:27 - "Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith the LORD, whose name is The God of hosts."
Amos 5:1 - "Hear ye this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel."