1. SERVING GOD OR NOT? Sun, Feb 1

a. After mentioning the transgressions of Damascus, Gaza, Tyrus, Edom, Ammon, Rabbah, and Moab, what protest does God declare about Judah and Israel, who professed to serve Him? Amos 2:4–8. b. What does the Lord testify about His compassion toward them, and the consequences of their despising His mercy? Amos 2:9–16. c. What question is asked when there is a betrayal of God’s trust—and how does this principle also apply in human relationships? Amos 3:1–3; Psalm 11:3. “How can the carnal mind harmonize with the mind that is assimilated to the mind of Christ? One is sowing to the flesh, thinking and acting in accordance with the promptings of his own heart; the other is sowing to the Spirit, seeking to repress selfishness, to overcome inclination, and to live in obedience to the Master, whose servant he professes to be.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, pp. 507, 508.“However pure and correct one’s principles may be, the influence of an unbelieving companion will have a tendency to lead away from God.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 174.

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2. PROPHECY TO BEAR FRUIT Mon, Feb 2

a. Why can we truly appreciate the value of prophecy? Amos 3:7, 8. “While ‘the secret things belong unto the Lord our God,’ ‘those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever.’. . . God has given these things to us, and His blessing will attend the reverent, prayerful study of the prophetic scriptures.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 234. b. Sadly, how did God’s professed people often treat Him? Amos 4:4­­–11. “ ‘The Lord shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water.’. . .“Yet the Lord did not give Israel up without first doing all that could be done to lead them back to their allegiance to Him. Through long, dark years when ruler after ruler stood up in bold defiance of Heaven and led Israel deeper and still deeper into idolatry, God sent message after message to His backslidden people. Through His prophets He gave them every opportunity to stay the tide of apostasy and to return to Him. During the years that were to follow the rending of the kingdom, Elijah and Elisha were to live and labor, and the tender appeals of Hosea and Amos and Obadiah were to be heard in the land. Never was the kingdom of Israel to be left without noble witnesses to the mighty power of God to save from sin.”—Prophets and Kings, p. 108. c. Like Amos, what message are we fearlessly to bear, just as John the Baptist did? Amos 4:12 (last part); Matthew 3:1, 2. “As a people who believe in Christ’s soon appearing, we have a message to bear—‘Prepare to meet thy God.’ Amos 4:12. Our message must be as direct as was the message of John. He rebuked kings for their iniquity. Notwithstanding that his life was imperiled, he did not hesitate to declare God’s word. And our work in this age must be done as faithfully.“In order to give such a message as John gave, we must have a spiritual experience like his. The same work must be wrought in us. We must behold God, and in beholding Him lose sight of self.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, pp. 332, 333.

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3. COURAGEOUS CHOICES Tue, Feb 3

a. Why is God unique in the universe, and what earnest appeals show His fervent desire to grant the meek what is best? Amos 4:13; 5:6–9, 14. b. As Amos shared these truths, how was he treated—and what was the general outcome in the face of these warnings and appeals? Amos 5:10, 15–18. “By far the greater number of those who heard these invitations [of Amos] refused to profit by them.”—Prophets and Kings, p. 284. c. What reproofs regarding lifestyle are to be a wake-up call? Amos 6:1, 3–7. “There are disagreeable duties that somebody must do or souls will be left to perish. Christians will find a blessing in doing these duties, however unpleasant they may be. Christ took the disagreeable task upon Himself of coming from the abode of purity and unsurpassed glory, to dwell, a man among men, in a world seared and blackened by crime, violence, and iniquity. He did this to save souls; and shall the objects of such amazing love and unparalleled condescension excuse their lives of selfish ease? shall they choose their own pleasure, follow their own inclinations, and leave souls to perish in darkness because they will meet with disappointment and rebuffs if they labor to save them? Christ paid an infinite price for man’s redemption, and shall he say: ‘My Lord, I will not labor in Thy vineyard; I pray Thee have me excused’?“God calls for those who are at ease in Zion to be up and doing. Will they not listen to the Master’s voice? He wants prayerful, faithful workers who will sow beside all waters. Those who labor thus will be surprised to find how trials, resolutely borne in the name and strength of Jesus, will give firmness to the faith and renew the courage. In the path of humble obedience is safety and power, comfort and hope; but the reward will finally be lost by those who do nothing for Jesus. Weak hands will be unable to cling to the Mighty One, feeble knees will fail to support in the day of adversity. Bible readers and Christian workers will receive the glorious prize, and hear the ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant: . . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.’ ”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 76.

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4. REAPING WHAT IS SOWN Wed, Feb 4

a. What revealed that God’s appeals given through Amos were unwelcome to Amaziah, the idolatrous priest? Amos 7:10–13. “So contrary to the evil desires of the impenitent were the words of God’s messengers, that the idolatrous priest at Bethel sent to the ruler in Israel, saying, ‘Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words.’ Amos 7:10.”—Prophets and Kings, p. 284.“For a season these predicted judgments were stayed, and during the long reign of Jeroboam II the armies of Israel gained signal victories; but this time of apparent prosperity wrought no change in the hearts of the impenitent, and it was finally decreed, ‘Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land.’ Amos 7:11.“The boldness of this utterance was lost on king and people, so far had they gone in impenitence.”—Ibid., p. 286. b. How did Amos boldly respond to Amaziah’s hostile remarks—and how were the prophet’s words later fulfilled? Amos 7:14–17; 1 Chronicles 5:25, 26. “The words spoken against the apostate tribes were literally fulfilled; yet the destruction of the kingdom came gradually. . . .“Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, invaded Israel and carried away with him a multitude of captives from among the tribes living in Galilee and east of the Jordan. ‘The Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh,’ with others of the inhabitants of ‘Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali’ (1 Chronicles 5:26; 2 Kings 15:29), were scattered among the heathen in lands far removed from Palestine.“From this terrible blow the northern kingdom never recovered. The feeble remnant continued the forms of government, though no longer possessed of power.”—Ibid., p. 287. c. When tempted to assume that God simply winks at laxity in the heart of a professed believer, of what are we reminded? Amos 8:1–7; Hebrews 4:12.

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5. THE WORST FAMINE EVER Thu, Feb 5

a. Describe the scene of spiritual famine soon to come. Amos 8:3, 11, 12. “The world is perishing for want of the gospel. There is a famine for the word of God. There are few who preach the word unmixed with human tradition.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 228.“[Amos 8:3 quoted.] These plagues [of Revelation 16] are not universal, or the inhabitants of the earth would be wholly cut off. Yet they will be the most awful scourges that have ever been known to mortals.”—The Great Controversy, pp. 628, 629.“Those who had not prized God’s Word were hurrying to and fro, wandering from sea to sea, and from the north to the east, to seek the Word of the Lord. Said the angel, ‘They shall not find it. There is a famine in the land; not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but for hearing the words of the Lord. What would they not give for one word of approval from God! but no, they must hunger and thirst on. Day after day have they slighted salvation, prizing earthly riches and earthly pleasure higher than any heavenly treasure or inducement. They have rejected Jesus and despised His saints. The filthy must remain filthy forever.’“Many of the wicked were greatly enraged as they suffered the effects of the plagues. It was a scene of fearful agony. Parents were bitterly reproaching their children, and children their parents, brothers their sisters, and sisters their brothers. Loud, wailing cries were heard in every direction, ‘It was you who kept me from receiving the truth which would have saved me from this awful hour.’ The people turned upon their ministers with bitter hate and reproached them, saying, ‘You have not warned us. You told us that all the world was to be converted, and cried, Peace, peace, to quiet every fear that was aroused. You have not told us of this hour; and those who warned us of it you declared to be fanatics and evil men, who would ruin us.’ But I saw that the ministers did not escape the wrath of God. Their suffering was tenfold greater than that of their people.”—Early Writings, pp. 281, 282.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS Fri, Feb 6

1. In order for harmony to exist in a relationship, what is necessary? 2. What is needed for me to be a “brand plucked from the burning”? 3. Why was Amos constrained to reprove the lifestyle of many in Israel? 4. When unfavorable news comes from an inspired source, what must I do? 5. What warning should I heed from the reality of Amos 4:11, 12?