God’s standard of living

​“The Lord said to me, “What do you see, Amos?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said, “Behold I am about to put a plumb line In the midst of My people Israel. I will spare them no longer.”

‭‭Amos‬ ‭7:8‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/100/amo.7.8.NASB1995

God had shown Amos two visions before this in which God was going to destroy Jacob first with locust at the harvest and second with fire. Amos' only response was, “How can Jacob stand, for he is too small” (Vs 3 and 5). And God replied by saying that these would not happen. Then God showed him the plumb line. 

A plumb line is used to establish a vertical line off a wall or other vertical structure. It is a standard for establishing if the wall is truly vertical and not leaning in or out. It will also help a bricklayer determine if his brick joints are aligned with the others in previous rows. 

So what is God’s established vertical line for life? Let us use the typical Sunday school answer. All together now. “God, Jesus, and the Bible.” Well done class. God says, “be Holy as I am Holy.” Jesus says, “Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” And the Bible, the word of the Lord, says, ”I am upright.”

“For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth. For I am the Lord who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.’”

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭11:44-45‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/100/lev.11.45.NASB1995

“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:48‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.5.48.NASB1995

“For the word of the Lord is upright, And all His work is done in faithfulness.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭33:4‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.33.4.NASB1995

This is our standard! Be Holy! Be perfect! Be upright! Be holy about the things of God! Be perfect in our relationship with other people! Be upright in all we do!