Contemplative Bible Reading

Amos 8:11 (New International Version)

“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign LORD,
“when I will send a famine through the land—
not a famine of food or a thirst for water,
but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.

A famine of hearing the words of the Lord. This passage is speaking specifically of a time in the life of the God’s chosen people. Their disobedience led to that punishment.

But what about other times of such a famine. How about during the 70 years of the Soviet Union? How about Communist China today? Tibet? Mongolia? Other extremely isolated places on earth? Is there much hearing the words of the Lord or is it a famine?

Or how about in my life? I may be reading the words of the Lord, I may be in a room where they are spoken? Am I hearing them? Am I paying attention?

I have a busy life, a blessed life. Sometimes I am too busy to stop and hear the words of the Lord enough to live them.

God, help me to hear your words. Help me to live them.