Seek good and not evil, that you may live; so the LORD God of hosts will be with you, as you have spoken. Amos 5:14
What does it mean to seek the Lord? To seek the Lord is to seek good and not evil. God is looking for the fruits of repentance in your life. Do you bring forth good works, good deeds, good attitudes, good character and a good lifestyle? The prophet Amos says in Amos 5:15 that if there is true repentance, God may turn from His wrath in judging the land. Remember what happened when Jonah went to preach in Nineveh? Nineveh was a metropolitan city of the ancient world that was so full of wickedness that God was going to destroy it. However, the people repented and sought the Lord in prayer and fasting. As a result, the Lord changed His mind and spared them.
So, Amos told the people to start seeking God—reject evil and do good. True repentance produces fruits in our lives. “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Matt. 3:8). What are the fruits of true repentance?
1) Conviction. When a man is not deeply convicted of sin, it is a very sure sign that he has not truly repented. Sooner or later, he will lapse back into his old lifestyle.
2) Contrition. There will be a deep godly sorrow and humiliation of heart because of sin. If there is no true contrition, a man will turn back to his old sin. Many sinners are just sorry for their sins; sorry that they have been continuing in sin but they repent with hearts that are not broken. However, the psalmist declares, “The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (Ps. 34:18).
3) Confession of sin. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
4) Conversion. There is no true conversion until conviction, contrition and confession have taken place. These are the marks of genuine repentance. Let there be a real change in your life toward the Lord. “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). Genuine repentance is always the first step toward revival. Whenever God’s people repent, He will respond from heaven. Is heaven closed over your life? Could it be that there has not been genuine repentance? “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chr. 7:14).
What does it mean to seek the Lord? To seek the Lord is to seek good and not evil. God is looking for the fruits of repentance in your life. Do you bring forth good works, good deeds, good attitudes, good character and a good lifestyle? The prophet Amos says in Amos 5:15 that if there is true repentance, God may turn from His wrath in judging the land. Remember what happened when Jonah went to preach in Nineveh? Nineveh was a metropolitan city of the ancient world that was so full of wickedness that God was going to destroy it. However, the people repented and sought the Lord in prayer and fasting. As a result, the Lord changed His mind and spared them.
So, Amos told the people to start seeking God—reject evil and do good. True repentance produces fruits in our lives. “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Matt. 3:8). What are the fruits of true repentance?
1) Conviction. When a man is not deeply convicted of sin, it is a very sure sign that he has not truly repented. Sooner or later, he will lapse back into his old lifestyle.
2) Contrition. There will be a deep godly sorrow and humiliation of heart because of sin. If there is no true contrition, a man will turn back to his old sin. Many sinners are just sorry for their sins; sorry that they have been continuing in sin but they repent with hearts that are not broken. However, the psalmist declares, “The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (Ps. 34:18).
3) Confession of sin. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
4) Conversion. There is no true conversion until conviction, contrition and confession have taken place. These are the marks of genuine repentance. Let there be a real change in your life toward the Lord. “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). Genuine repentance is always the first step toward revival. Whenever God’s people repent, He will respond from heaven. Is heaven closed over your life? Could it be that there has not been genuine repentance? “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chr. 7:14).
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