“You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities” (Amos 3:2).

The words of the Prophet Amos must have seemed strange to the people of Israel. They saw themselves as God’s chosen people and assumed that God had to do good to them. Many must have thought that God “owed” them good things.

Election is actually the opposite. God’s choosing means that we belong to Him and that He has called us to justice and righteousness. In the Old Testament, election is always election for service and responsibility.

When you understand who God is and what He does, you begin to understand the words of God through Amos.

God elected Israel. He had only “known” them. The words “know” and “known” imply a close, intimate knowing. God chose them for righteousness and expected them to live in obedience to Him.

You can immediately understand the words of Jesus when He said, “To whom much is given much is required” (Luke 12:48).

We belong to God. He said given us every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3). He wants us to use our blessings for the good of others and for the glory of God.

As we look at our own blessings, we notice how much we have been given in every way.

We have been given so much. Let us seek to live righteously and give of our blessings to please God.