Seek Good NOT Evil ... Unpacking the Message of Amos 5:14
- Anthony Speciale
- 8 hours ago
- 9 min read
Greetings,
Seek Good, NOT Evil, That You May Live ✝️
Unpacking the Message of Amos 5:14
Amos 5:14 is a direct and urgent call from God that cuts through religious pretense and reaches the heart of authentic faith. When the prophet says, “Seek good, not evil, that you may live,” he is not offering moral advice but issuing a life-or-death invitation. God is speaking to a people who claimed to worship Him, yet whose lives were marked by injustice, hypocrisy, and self-interest. This verse exposes the truth that spiritual life is not sustained by outward religion alone, but by a genuine pursuit of what is good in God’s eyes.
The word “seek” implies intentional effort and ongoing pursuit. God is not calling for occasional good deeds or surface-level morality, but for a deliberate reorientation of the heart. To seek good means to desire it, pursue it, and choose it consistently. This seeking requires discernment, humility, and a willingness to turn away from paths that feel comfortable but lead away from God. Life, according to this verse, is found not in neutrality, but in active pursuit of goodness.
The command to “seek good, not evil” reveals that life and death are connected to moral direction. Evil is not merely wrong behavior; it is anything that opposes God’s character, disrupts justice, or harms others. Amos addresses a society that tolerated oppression while continuing religious rituals. God makes it clear that worship divorced from goodness is empty. True life flows from aligning one’s actions with God’s heart.
The phrase “that you may live” shows that obedience is not about restriction but preservation. God’s commands are life-giving, not life-limiting. When people turn toward good and away from evil, they position themselves to experience spiritual vitality, peace, and wholeness. Life here goes beyond physical existence; it refers to a flourishing relationship with God and the restoration of what sin has broken.
The second half of the verse deepens the message by tying God’s presence to obedience. “Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you” reveals that God’s nearness is experienced most fully where His ways are honored. This does not mean God abandons people when they fail, but it does emphasize that ongoing rebellion creates distance in relationship. God desires to dwell with His people, but that dwelling is nurtured through repentance and obedience.
The phrase “just as you say he is” exposes a painful disconnect. The people claimed God was with them, but their lives told a different story. Amos confronts the danger of assuming God’s presence without living according to His will. This verse challenges believers to examine whether their confession of faith aligns with their conduct. God’s presence is not validated by words alone, but by lives shaped by righteousness and justice.
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Amos 5:14 also reveals God’s patience and mercy. Even in the midst of rebuke, God offers a path forward. He does not simply condemn evil; He calls His people back to what is good. This shows God’s desire for restoration rather than destruction. His warnings are invitations to return, not final judgments meant to exclude.
This verse carries a strong ethical dimension. Seeking good involves caring for the vulnerable, acting justly, and rejecting systems or habits that perpetuate harm. Amos repeatedly emphasizes justice because goodness in God’s eyes always includes how people treat one another. Faith that ignores injustice is faith that has lost its way. Seeking good is inseparable from loving others rightly.
The verse also invites personal reflection. It asks each person to consider what they are actively seeking. Are their pursuits shaped by convenience, comfort, or self-advancement, or by goodness, truth, and obedience to God? Amos 5:14 makes clear that direction matters. What we seek determines the life we experience.
For believers today, this verse remains deeply relevant. It reminds us that claiming God’s presence while ignoring His commands leads to spiritual emptiness. But when we seek what is good—through repentance, humility, and obedience—we encounter a God who draws near, guides our steps, and gives life.
Ultimately, Amos 5:14 points us toward the heart of the gospel. Through Jesus Christ, God makes a way for people trapped in evil to turn toward good and truly live. Christ embodies perfect goodness and invites us to follow Him. As we seek good and turn from evil, we do not walk alone. The Lord God Almighty is with us, just as He promised, leading us into life that is real, restored, and enduring.
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Here is a 7-day journaling plan designed to help a follower of Jesus Christ grow in obedience, discernment, and authentic faith by unpacking Amos 5:14 — “Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is.”
Each day includes an opening prayer, a focused journaling reflection, and a closing prayer to guide spiritual growth...
Day 1 — What Am I Truly Seeking?
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, search my heart today. Help me see clearly what I am truly pursuing in my life. Remove distractions and draw my desires toward what is good in Your sight. Amen.
Journaling Reflection
Reflect honestly on what occupies your thoughts, energy, and time. What are you actively seeking right now—comfort, success, approval, control, or goodness that honors God? How does this verse challenge your current pursuits?
Closing Prayer
Lord, align my desires with Yours. Help me seek what brings true life rather than what only appears good for a moment. Amen.
Day 2 — Turning Away from What Is Not Good
Opening Prayer
God of truth, give me courage to face areas of compromise in my life. Help me recognize what You call evil and turn from it without fear. Amen.
Journaling Reflection
Write about habits, attitudes, or patterns that God may be calling you to leave behind. How do these things affect your spiritual life and relationship with Him?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for Your mercy. Help me turn away from anything that pulls me from You and walk toward freedom and life. Amen.
Day 3 — God’s Definition of “Good”
Opening Prayer
Lord, teach me to see goodness through Your eyes, not through the standards of the world. Shape my understanding by Your Word. Amen.
Journaling Reflection
How does God define good differently than culture does? Reflect on Scripture, the life of Jesus, and the fruit of the Spirit. Where do you need to adopt God’s definition of good more fully?
Closing Prayer
Jesus, help me desire what You desire. Let Your goodness shape my choices and character. Amen.
Day 4 — Life That Comes from Obedience
Opening Prayer
Father, help me trust that obedience leads to life, not restriction. Strengthen my faith as I reflect on this truth today. Amen.
Journaling Reflection
Amos connects seeking good with truly living. Write about a time when obedience brought peace, clarity, or growth—even if it was difficult at first.
Closing Prayer
Lord, thank You for leading me into life through obedience. Help me trust Your commands as gifts, not burdens. Amen.
Day 5 — Is God With Me as I Say He Is?
Opening Prayer
God Almighty, help me examine whether my life reflects the faith I profess. Let truth guide my reflection today. Amen.
Journaling Reflection
The verse challenges the gap between confession and conduct. Does your life align with your claim that God is with you? Where might God be inviting deeper alignment?
Closing Prayer
Father, let my life reflect what I believe. Help me walk faithfully so Your presence is evident in me. Amen.
Day 6 — Seeking Good in How I Treat Others
Opening Prayer
Lord, open my eyes to how seeking good impacts my relationships. Teach me to reflect Your justice, kindness, and love toward others. Amen.
Journaling Reflection
Reflect on how you treat others—especially those who are difficult, overlooked, or different from you. How does seeking good shape your actions and responses?
Closing Prayer
Jesus, help me love others the way You love me. Let goodness flow through my words and actions. Amen.
Day 7 — Committing to a Life That Seeks Good
Opening Prayer
Father, as I reflect on this week, help me commit to a life that seeks good consistently and faithfully. Amen.
Journaling Reflection
Looking back over the week, how has your understanding of Amos 5:14 deepened? What specific changes or commitments is God calling you to make as you continue walking with Him?
Closing Prayer
Lord God Almighty, I choose to seek good and turn from evil. Thank You for the promise of life and Your abiding presence. Lead me forward in obedience, faith, and trust. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Closing thoughts as we pray for those reading or hearing this verse today...
Heavenly Father,
We come before You with hearts that desire life—the true life that only comes from walking in Your ways. Your Word calls us to seek good and turn away from evil, not as a burden, but as an invitation to live fully in Your presence. Teach us, Lord, to recognize what is good in Your sight and to pursue it with courage and consistency.
Search our hearts and reveal any places where we have tolerated compromise or grown comfortable with what pulls us away from You. Give us the strength to turn from evil, not by our own willpower, but by trusting in Your grace and truth. Shape our desires so that what pleases You becomes what we long for most.
Lord God Almighty, we want our lives to reflect a genuine walk with You—not just words or claims of faith, but obedience that flows from love. Help us live in a way that makes room for Your presence, so that You are truly with us, guiding us, correcting us, and sustaining us each day.
Jesus, lead us on the path of goodness and life. May our choices honor You, our actions reflect Your character, and our hearts remain sensitive to Your voice. We seek You today, trusting that as we pursue what is good, we will find life and experience the nearness of our faithful God. In Jesus’ name, Amen 🙏🏻
Be Relentless In Pursuit Of The Will
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❤️ Anthony and Anna Speciale
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