Revealed first

Wk 37 Day 6

Amos 3:7
Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants and prophets.

.. This was a warning summoned against the nation of Israel
.. They were being very rebellious (Amos 4)
.. The Lord has already warned them, yet nothing has changed

What does this tell me about God?
.. He finds ways on how He can reveal his plan to his servants and prophets before doing anything
.. He is all-powerful and can do whatever He wants to His creation
.. He is gracious and merciful yet also fierce in His judgment
.. He warns us when we are doing something that's not pleasing in His sight before He disciplines (or even punish us - big or small)
.. He uses people to warn us to turn away from what we are doing wrong before He "smites" us

What does this tell me about man?
.. Man is, by nature, sinful, hence we do the same wrong things over and over
.. Man, when consumed by his own feelings, emotions and carnal mindset, is rebellious against God and won't listen
.. Man likes to drive his own life without realizing of having such a small perspective (single-sided/angled) about life
.. Man does not trust God enough to lead his life, hence, disobedience

Geneva Study Bible

Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he {h} revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

(h) God does not deal with the Israelites as he does with other people: for he always warns them before of his plagues by his Prophets.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

7. his secret-namely, His purpose hidden from all, until it is revealed to His prophets (compare Ge 18:17). In a wider sense, God's will is revealed to all who love God, which it is not to the world (Ps 25:14; Joh 15:15; 17:25, 26).

unto his servants-who being servants cannot but obey their Lord in setting forth His purpose (namely, that of judgment against Israel) (Jer 20:9; Eze 9:11). Therefore the fault which the ungodly find with them is groundless (1Ki 18:17). It aggravates Israel's sin, that God is not about to inflict judgment, without having fully warned the people, if haply they might repent.

Belle:
.. In the same way as God dealt with the Israelites, He has also given me so much warning before giving me some sort of consequence of what I am doing (esp with my past life) - whether deep within me (my conviction, conscience) or through situations, other people and most especially the Word
.. God will reveal things to me and let me know what's coming ahead, if I am keen to listen to His voice and warnings. Therefore, I must listen. I must heed the warning of which danger is coming ahead with the doings I am engaging myself into.
.. When I hear the call, I will listen. When I hear the warning, I will obey.

Practical stuff:
.. procrastination - do it immediately and no "I'll do it later" statements
.. need to organize my time even more wisely than i have now - but less stress

// Lord, these things may be simple stuff for my life but on a greater scale, this is highly important. I thank you for your warnings that spare me from the bigger consequences of my dumb-doings. I pray that you will empower me to be more motivated in my thinking and in my heart do things more efficiently and effectively. As you promised that you will keep walking in righteousness, as little as this request, I pray that You will help me because You want me to be an example to everyone around me. That is my desire, I pray that you grant it and I know You will. I lift this up to You in Jesus' name, amen.