July 2 | Amos' Visions - Brentwood Baptist

Today’s Reading:

Read Amos 6:14; 7:1-9; 8:1-3a, 11-12; 9:8-15

Ask each member of your family to think about a dream they have had recently. Draw a picture or write out what the dream was about. Spend some time as a family talking about the dreams each family member had.

When God had a message for the prophets, He used different ways to tell them what He wanted them to share. With Amos, God spoke to him through visions or dreams. Amos’ dreams showed him that God was sending judgment to the Israelites and the surrounding nations as a consequence for their rebellion. (Rebellion is another word for disobedience.)

Amos’ dreams showed him that a nation would rise up against Israel. King Jeroboam II was the King of the Northern Kingdom and according to Amos’ visions, his reign would end. Amos told the Israelites that they would face many hardships and challenges. And, sadly, Amos’ dreams showed that there would be a time when the Lord was quiet and the Israelites would not hear from God. The warnings were very serious.

The good news was that even though Amos prophesied that bad things were going to happen to the Israelites, he also reminded them that God promised to not completely destroy Israel. He promised to restore the house of King David. This was important because the Israelites knew that the Messiah- the one who was coming to save them- would be coming from the house of David. So, even though there was sad news for Israel, there was still HOPE!

Application/Prayer:

As we read more about the prophets, we will find out even more about God’s promises and God’s warnings for the people of Israel. Grab a sheet of paper and start a list of “prophecies” that we will read about that will happen to the nation of Israel. Keep the list in your Bible- use it to keep track of the prophecies that are fulfilled as we read.

Thank God for the HOPE he offers even when we make choices that have consequences. God’s forgiveness is something we should always be grateful for. He always gives us a second chance! Thank Him for that today.

July Memory Verse:

“Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.”

John 5:24

Using the daily reading prompts from George H. Guthrie’s Read the Bible for Life, here’s how to use this devotional:

Bring your Bible! Your kids need to see that everything you are reading to them or learning about comes from an actual Bible!
Each day starts with a reading prompt. Read the selection as a family. If your kids are readers, encourage them to read along with you.
After you’ve read the passage, read the short devotional thought that goes along with each passage.
Prayer and application are important any time we read God’s word! After each devotional, there is a challenge to help apply what your family has read that day.
There is a reading for six days of the week. The last reading of the week is a Gospel Conversation Prompt to help you connect the reading from the week with God’s plan for salvation.