"Then Amaziah said to Amos, ‘Seer, go back right now to Judah. Do your prophesying and earn your living there, but don’t prophesy anymore here at Bethel. This is the king’s holy place, and it is the nation’s temple.’ Then Amos answered Amaziah, ‘I do not make my living as a prophet, nor am I a member of a group of prophets. I make my living as a shepherd, and I take care of sycamore trees. But the Lord took me away from tending the flock and said to me, "Go prophesy to my people Israel." So listen to the Lord’s word.’" (NCV)
Amos walked away from his life in order to be obedient to God’s call on his life. He left his home, his familiar surroundings, his culture, even his job, in order to do what God called him to do. With that obedience came courage to say the things God put into his heart and mouth. With that obedience came a power beyond his imagination as he spoke the words that would become part of God’s Holy Bible. With that obedience came a freedom to obey God fully, without reservation. With that obedience came the ability to live and speak the Truth, even to those who had much greater authority, prestige, and power.
The life that Amos had lived may have one of choice or one of simply family tradition. Regardless, he was a shepherd and a farmer, taking care of flocks and orchards. It was a life where he may have been often alone or where he may have been surrounded by brothers, helping out with the various duties of shepherding and farming. But at some point, God called, Amos answered, and everything changed.
The thing is, Amos had nothing against which to measure the "success" of his call. He didn’t have a large congregation or an impressive building. He didn’t have the Internet to share his words nor a publisher looking to print his book. He wasn’t starring in a television series nor booking concerts in large venues. He wasn’t a conference speaker, a top-10 author, or a mega-church pastor. He was a shepherd and a farmer, both occupations—even in those days—on the very low rungs of the social order. He was a nobody who simply obeyed the Lord and did what God told him to do. It didn’t matter to him that people in high places, people with influence, people with position and power told him to stop. The Lord had told him to go and to speak and that’s what he did.
Imagine what America might be like if Christians rose up in obedience to God’s call and did and said what they were told to do without reservation. Imagine what the our cities and towns and neighborhoods would be like if we actually began to live like the Lord Jesus and loved our neighbors as if they were us, sacrificially giving and loving and ministering to them. Imagine what the world would be like if the Church actually took the call of being the light and salt seriously and began to live the fruit in Galatians through the power of the Holy Spirit. Imagine what would happen if the Lord said, "Go and do and say," and we actually obeyed Him.
The thing is, the Lord has already said, "Go and do and say."
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20a NKJV).
"And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mark 16:15-18 NKJV).
Go. Make disciples. Baptize them. Teach them. And these signs will follow.
This is the message of Amos to Christians today: "Go and do what God has commanded you to do. Prophesy God’s Word to those around you." This is the message of the Lord Jesus Christ to Christians today: "Go and make disciples. Teach them. Live in the power of the Holy Spirit."
We have too long reduced Christianity to counting the bodies in the seats. We have too long reduced the message of the gospel to a "Come to Jesus" moment, rather than making disciples. We have too long been in love with the world, rather than in love with our Savior. We have too long refused to become Amos. And right now, God needs an Amos. He needs you!
© 2014 Robin L. O’Hare. All Rights Reserved.
For permission to copy, please contact servinggodalone@yahoo.com
No comments:
Post a Comment