Amos 7:14-15

Amos 7:14-15 (ESV):  “14 Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. 15 But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’”

God isn’t looking for the best and the brightest—He’s looking for the faithful. He can equip anyone for the task. He chooses character over qualifications.

After the Lord showed Amos a plumb line, He declared that because Jeroboam and Israel were crooked, they would now face judgment. Amos delivered that message to the people at Bethel. When the priest Amaziah heard it, he told Amos to go back to Judah and never speak another word against Israel. But Amos reminded him that he was called by God to prophesy. And he went on to declare that Israel would surely go into exile because of her disobedience.

Have you ever been pressured by people to stop being who God has called you to be? We can take our cues from Amos and stay the course. God didn’t call you to cower before people, but to proclaim the gospel of grace. Don’t stop being who He has called you to be. He has hand-picked you to represent Him for such a time as this. Be faithful—and do it. Amen?

Father, we thank You for calling us into this glorious relationship and for equipping us to be used. Keep us centered and faithful, we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.