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Welcome to WikiChristian A encyclopedia and discussion forum for all Christians to share their faith with 349,997 pages and over a million edits. Statement of Faith | Vision Special Links: Bible Referencing | Page Layout & Writing Guide | Senior Editors | WikiChristian Needs Your Help! What is Christianity? Christianity is about God reaching out his hand in friendship to mankind. Christians believe that the whole world and everything in it was created by God. God is a personal being, a living God who is three, yet one: Father, Son and Spirit, just as we human beings have body, mind and soul! (see the Trinity). The Bible says God created people in his image, to love him. Yet every person has rebelled against God and sinned. Yet instead of turning his back on us, God became a man, Jesus, who most scholars believe was born about the year 4 BC and lived among us. He taught a message of love throughout Palestine but public opinion turned against him and he was executed as a young man. He died because of us - the death that we should have died. He was crucified on a cross, but he rose from the dead, and now calls us to trust him, to love him and to repent of our rebellion. If we do this, then we our relationship with God becomes restored and we will live forever with God. Many non-Christians may think that being a Christian is about belonging to a particular church or following a certain set of rule. Most Christians however would agree that at its root, being a Christian means to be in a living relationship with Jesus. Who is God? God | Jesus Christ | Holy Spirit | Essence of Christianity | Trinity Current Projects Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary In the News Video of the Week WikiChristian Contents - Christianity Bible > Old Testament Genesis | Exodus | Leviticus | Numbers | Deuteronomy | Joshua | Judges | Ruth | 1 Samuel | 2 Samuel | 1 Kings | 2 Kings | 1 Chronicles | 2 Chronicles | Ezra | Nehemiah | Esther | Job | Psalms | Proverbs | Ecclesiastes | Song of Solomon | Isaiah | Jeremiah | Lamentations | Ezekiel | Daniel | Hosea | Joel | Amos | Obadiah | Jonah | Micah | Nahum | Habakkuk | Zephaniah | Haggai | Zechariah | Malachi > New Testament Matthew | Mark | Luke | John | Acts | Romans | 1 Corinthians | 2 Corinthians | Galatians | Ephesians | Philippians | Colossians | 1 Thessalonians | 2 Thessalonians | 1 Timothy | 2 Timothy | Titus | Philemon | Hebrews | James | 1 Peter | 2 Peter | 1 John | 2 John | 3 John | Jude | Revelation Christian literature, art, music and media | Christian Songs Index Church | Church history | Denominations People: Famous Christians | Media Workers and Volunteers Christian doctrine and debates | Grace | Love Current issues | News Science and Technology Other religions Places | Mission | World-wide church directory Devotion Of The Day Amazing Sunset September, 21 - Daily Devotions September scripture portion: Ezekiel 12 - Malachi (including the Books of Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi) Ezekiel 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 Daniel 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 | Hosea 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Joel 1 2 3 | Amos 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 | Obadiah 1 | Jonah 1 2 3 4 | Micah 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Nahum 1 2 3 | Habakkuk 1 2 3 | Zephaniah 1 2 3 | Zechariah 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 | Malachi 1 2 3 4 Amos wrote his book about 25 years before the fall of Israel. In it we are visiting the city of Bethel, where King Jeroboam II has his private chapel, and Amaziah is his priest. The nation is enjoying peace and prosperity; in fact, they are living in luxury. Amos was God's man for his time. He was a simple shepherd from Tekoa, a hill country town about 10 miles south of Jerusalem, and a dresser of sycamore fruit. He was called to be a prophet to the whole house of Jacob (chapter 3:1), but chiefly to the Northern Kingdom at the main sanctuary in Bethel. He met with the opposition of the high priest, and was reported to Jeroboam II by him. Amos reduced his prophecies to writing shortly after he returned to Tekoa. He began his message by looking around at the nations and announcing eight judgments. Verse 2 of chapter 1 makes it clear that God is roaring in wrath, like a lion leaping on its prey. Amos begins with Syria and accuses her of cruelty in war. He then points to Philistia and condemns her for the sin of slavery. The Phoenicians are next, and they are judged for cruel slavery and the selling of slaves. Israel's old enemy Edom is accused of not showing pity, but maintaining a constant hatred. Ammon is judged for her violent crimes and selfish greed; Moab for her cruelty to Edom; and Judah for rejecting the Law of God. Perhaps it pleased the people of Israel as they listened to Amos condemn their neighbors, but judgment number eight was reserved for Israel. In chapter 2:6-16 the prophet names the sins of the people of Israel; and, in verse 13, he says he is pressed by the burden of that sin. Having announced judgment to the nations. Amos now explains why judgment is coming. We must remember that Israel was enjoying a time of peace, prosperity, and religious revival. People were attending religious services and bringing generous offerings. However, God does not look on the outward appearance, but on the heart. Amos knew the hearts of the people were far from God. In chapters 3, 4, and 5 Amos brings three sermons to the people. He prefaces each sermon with, "Hear this word." The first message is one of explanation (chapter 3:1-15); the second message is one of accusation (chapter 4:1-13); and the third message is one of lamentation (chapters 5:1--6:14). Daily Devotions - Commentary on The Entire Bible in 365 Days