July 12, 2017. Amos 6-9.

 

 

This week’s passages heavily reside in the book of Amos.  The Hebrew name Amos means strong; carried; brave. Well who is this Amos guy anyway?  Amos was a prophet although if you ask him he will say:

14 […] “I was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. 15 But the Lord took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’

God has quite the history of using what seem to be the most “insignificant” and under-qualified people to do extraordinary things.  So there is the first thing you should continue to remind yourself of - no matter how useless you feel or how badly you wish to be in a better position to serve the Lord, He can use you!  All you have to do is be willing and obedient to his all.

Amos was totally obedient when God told him to go and prophesy.  Remember the meaning of his name? Strong. Carried. Brave.  He had to be strong, he knew he would be carried by God, and he had to be brave.  Your name might not be Amos, but your life can reflect its meaning.  When God calls you to do something, be an Amos. 

The second thing to note from our boy Amos is - not everyone is going to understand your calling or heed to it.  The Lord was not very happy with the people of Israel and His messages to the people, given through Amos, reflected that.  This was the response Amos received when relaying the prophecies given to him by God:

Amos 7:12

12 Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. 13 Don’t prophesy anymore at Bethel, because this is the king’s sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom.”

Now with that kind of reaction most would understand if Amos turned around and hightailed it out of there, but he remained and continued to do what the Lord had called him there to do.

Another important lesson to learn but from those receiving the prophesies through Amos, when the Lord speaks to you do not ignore it.  He could be using someone in your life who is speaking into you, or maybe through your daily devotions.  Be listening for those times He is trying to get your attention.  The Israelites did not:

Amos 8:11-12

11 “The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord,

    “when I will send a famine through the land—

not a famine of food or a thirst for water,

    but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.

12 People will stagger from sea to sea

    and wander from north to east,

searching for the word of the Lord,

    but they will not find it.

Listen for the voice of God. Be strong.  Be carried by Christ.  Be brave. Be an Amos.