Word Power MLK Day
Bible Readings
Take a few minutes to read the Bible verses listed and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in how this verse applies to you this week.
10 You people hate judges and honest witnesses; 11 you abuse the poor and demand heavy taxes from them. You have built expensive homes, but you won't enjoy them; you have planted vineyards, but you will get no wine. 12 I am the , and I know your terrible sins. You cheat honest people and take bribes; you rob the poor of justice. 13 Times are so evil that anyone with good sense will keep quiet. 14 If you really want to live, you must stop doing wrong and start doing right. I, the God All-Powerful, will then be on your side, just as you claim I am. 15 Choose good instead of evil! See that justice is done. Maybe I, the All-Powerful, will be kind to what's left of your people. 16 This is what the has sworn: Noisy crying will be heard in every town and street. Even farmers will be told to mourn for the dead, together with those who are paid to mourn. 17 Your vineyards will be filled with crying and weeping, because I will punish you. I, the , have spoken! 18 You look forward to the day when the comes to judge. But you are in for trouble! It won't be a time of sunshine; all will be darkness. 19 You will run from a lion, only to meet a bear. You will escape to your house, rest your hand on the wall, and be bitten by a snake. 20 The day when the judges will be dark, very dark, without a ray of light. 21 I, the , hate and despise your religious celebrations and your times of worship. 22 I won't accept your offerings or animal sacrifices— not even your very best. 23 No more of your noisy songs! I won't listen when you play your harps. 24 But let justice and fairness flow like a river that never runs dry. 25 Israel, for forty years you wandered in the desert, without bringing offerings or sacrifices to me. 26 Now you will have to carry the two idols you made— Sakkuth, the one you call king, and Kaiwan, the one you built in the shape of a star. 27 I will force you to march as captives beyond Damascus. I, the God All-Powerful, have spoken!
Amos 5:10-27
Memory Verse
Amos 5:24
24 But let justice and fairness flow like a river that never runs dry.
Did you know words have power? Your words. Your neighbor’s words. Everybody’s! Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. knew that. He used his word power to help people see each other as equals, no matter their skin color. All around the world, people honor Dr. King for his work and words, especially for the way he shared God’s words.
In his I Have a Dream speech, Dr. King boldly stated, “No, no we are not satisfied and will not be satisfied until justice flows down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.” We find similar words in Amos 5:24. God spoke these words through Amos the prophet to remind the people that justice and righteousness work together. Just like water easily streams, justice and righteousness should flow easily to all people. No matter what you look like or where you come from, God wants all of us to enjoy justice and righteousness.
In 2025, sixty-two years will have passed since Dr. King wrote and spoke those words and over 2,700 years since Amos did the same, yet they are just as powerful today and greatly needed. Every time you see water flowing or a stream skirting along with nothing stopping its flow, remember that is how God wants all human beings to give and receive justice. Freely. Covering all in its path.
Prayer
Dear God, you created us all in your image. May we work to ensure that all men and women equally receive justice and righteousness. Give us a desire to follow your guidance so that we may live together in peace. Amen.Related Resources
Brenda M. Croston
Brenda M. Croston serves as the women's ministry leader at Mt. Gilead Missionary Baptist Church, Nashville TN. She is privileged to enjoy life with Mark. Together they have four adult children and two beautiful granddaughters.