The judgment of Amos against Israel was severe. As is usually the case, injustice was the main sin - the crushing exploitation of the poor and weak. To make matters worse, they profaned holy things and showed no reverence for God. Their moral and spiritual foundation had collapsed, and now they would pay the price.

In every age, the best indicator of the spiritual state of a people or nation is how they treat the poor, weak, and vulnerable. No amount of religiosity will cover up the cruelty and injustice.

There are two kinds of Christians - those who worship Jesus and those others who follow Him. Jesus sets the bar very high for discipleship - one must not hold back but give their entire self. Some individuals told Jesus they wanted to be followers too. He warned them that it was a life of insecurity, movement, and lack of stability. It was certainly not a 'normal' life.

Following in the footsteps of Jesus means placing everything above - family, career, social obligations, etc. He warns us not to start this path unless we are willing to stick with it. Do we have what it takes to be a missionary disciple?