Trying to Live By God’s Standard

Yesterday, at church, our pastor read through the book of Amos. He reminded us that we have to follow God’s standard, not society’s standard. God’s standard is clearly written in the bible. Our pastor read a part of the constitution that says our country was founded on God’s principles. Just like in the Old Testament’s Book of Amos, the government and society have made their own standard, disregarding God’s standard.

I have to follow God’s standard everyday. Sometimes, I wonder why people behave the way that they do. People probably think the same thing about me. I have to move past what I can see and ask God how to handle situations and people in my life. I can get lost in my emotions.  Or, I can turn away and look up to God.

God wants us to seek good and not evil. God wants to be with us. God wants us to hate evil and love good. Sometimes, it does not always feel so straight forward. But, it is straight forward.

Seek good and not evil,
That you may live;
So the Lord God of hosts will be with you,
As you have spoken.
Hate evil, love good;
–Amos 5:14-15 (NKJV)

I have to resist getting caught up in my emotions. I have to pray and do God’s will. I need this reminder.

We have to set our minds on heaven and not on things of this earth. I should memorize this verse. When difficult people or situations arise, I have to stop and pray for God to help me do his will and not my own. If it were up to me, I would make a decisions based on my emotions. God wants to work though us, so that would not be helpful.

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
–Colossians 3:2 (NKJV)

God can give us patience. God can direct our hearts to feel God’s love, so we can have strength to have patience. Emotions can creep up on us and take us by surprise. So, at any moment, we need to be willing to stop what we are doing and turn to God.

Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.
–2 Thessalonians 3:5 (NKJV)

Society and the government finds many things acceptable that do not meet God’s standard. Instead of judging ourselves by looking at the people around us, we need to turn our hearts to God. We need to try and live by God’s standard.