| Day 335: Read today's devotional on Bible Gateway. "In that Day""In that day I will restore the fallen house of David. I will repair its damaged walls. From the ruins I will rebuild it and restore its former glory. And Israel will possess what is left of Edom and all the nations I have called to be mine." The Lord has spoken, and he will do these things. "The time will come," says the Lord, "when the grain and grapes will grow faster than they can be harvested. Then the terraced vineyards on the hills of Israel will drip with sweet wine! I will bring my exiled people of Israel back from distant lands, and they will rebuild their ruined cities and live in them again. They will plant vineyards and gardens; they will eat their crops and drink their wine. I will firmly plant them there in their own land. They will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them," says the Lord your God.
(Amos 9:11-15) ReflectThe Jews of Amos's day had lost sight of God's care and love for them. The rich were carefree and comfortable, refusing to help others in need. They observed their religious rituals in hopes of appeasing God, but they did not truly love him. Amos announced God's warnings of destruction for their evil ways. In the punishment, the house of David was reduced to a "fallen house." God's covenant with David stated that one of David's descendants would always sit on his throne (2 Samuel 7:12-16). The exile made this promise seem impossible. But "in that day" (Amos 9:11) God would raise up and restore the kingdom to its promised glory. This was a promise to Israel and Judah, not to be fulfilled by an earthly, political ruler, but by the Messiah, who would renew the spiritual kingdom and rule forever. James, the half-brother of Jesus, later quoted these verses (Acts 15:16-17), finding the promise fulfilled in Christ's resurrection and in the presence of Jews and Gentiles in the church. RespondWe must not assume that going to church and being good are proof of rightness with God. God expects our belief in him to penetrate all areas of our conduct and to extend to all people and circumstances. We can let Amos's words inspire us to live faithfully according to God's desires. | 
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