A great old hymn asks, "And are we yet alive?" Last Sunday we saw in Luke’s marvelous record of Jesus’ teachings and in the prophetic injunction of Joel the contrast between life and death, and we were confronted with the challenge to live. Today as we continue with Jesus in Luke’s record and hear the powerful voice of Amos speaking we discover the simple formula for living the life of faith.

For those who want life that is real, Amos says, there are two directions for their quest to take. They must seek fellowship with the Lord, and they must pursue good rather than evil.

Faith is important to life, Jesus indicates. It is infinitely powerful and enabling. But faith is its own reward. Do not expect special favors because you have it. To live in responsive obedience to God is to live by t…