Run, Baby, Run!
One Year Bible: Dec. 11
Amos 4:1-6:14
Run, Baby, Run!
“Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live!” (Amos 5:14)
Have you ever “run for your life”?
Many years ago, I was with a group of people who were handing out flyers in a neighborhood for an upcoming church event. A large dog got loose from a house and came running after us!
Perhaps you have heard the saying, “Their bark is worse than their bite.” Well, I really didn’t want to wait around and take that chance!
So, I took off on the run knocking my partner out of the way and jumping over bushes.
When I was just a little girl, I was attacked by a dog that bit my face and nose.
My first memories of life were that moment of being strapped down with needles going in and out by my eye and nose.
And now you know why I am not fond of all things related, “to blood, doctors, hospitals)... You name it! I have the body memory and the mental memory of judgment and pain, and it brought about a physical response from me!
I run from large dogs, and I still, to this day, hide my head under a blanket when blood scenes or needles come on in a movie or TV show. (Just ask my daughter. She will warn me, “Hide your eyes cute-cute!” (That’s what she calls me! God bless her!)
You see, I know the pain that wrong actions can bring. When I was little, I pet this dog while it was trying to eat. Big mistake! Huge mistake!
These people being judged in this story had cozied up with an animal who had great vengeance for God, and in cozying up to God’s enemy, they got bit… profoundly!
Even after God rescued them from death, they forgot their rescue and went back time after time to “pet sin.” They didn’t hide their eyes from evil or RUN!!
Can you imagine me going back to put another strange dog? Yet, we get bit by sin, rescued by God, and instead of being thankful and heeding the warning, we walk close to evil again and again.
Listen again to Amos’ words, “Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live!” (5:14)
Have you noticed the evil surrounding us today? More than ever before, we are surrounded by visual images contrary to the will of God.

There is an old story illustration that I have heard my father use in sermons about a white dog and a black dog that were always at war with each other. They were always at war!
The story ends with the question asked, "Which dog wins?"
To which the reply comes, "Whichever dog you feed the most!"
Like me, as a little child, we walk too close to "the feasting on evil," and we get bit.
Amos' message to the people and to us to choose very carefully where we walk and how close we choose to "cozy up" with evil.
Run, Baby, Run!
