Wednesday Thought -- February 26, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent a message to Jeroboam king of Israel: ‘Amos is raising a conspiracy against you in the very heart of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words. For this is what Amos is saying: “Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will surely go into exile, away from their native land.”’ 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. Don’t prophesy anymore at Bethel, because this is the king’s sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom.’ Amos answered Amaziah, ‘I was neither a prophet nor a prophet’s son, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. But the LORD took me from tending the flock and said to me, “Go, prophesy to my people Israel.”’” (Amos 7:10-15)

The priest, the king, and the people of Israel didn’t want to hear the message that Amos was bringing to them. They were satisfied with their lives. They weren’t interested in changing. They just wanted life to continue as it was. Amos was preaching a message of repentance, and the judgment that awaited if repentance did not come. That was certainly not what they wanted to hear!

The message of God is often something that the people do not want to hear. What people want to hear is that they are doing fine and can continue doing their own thing. But that’s not always God’s message. God’s message is often a message of repentance and the judgment that awaits those who don’t repent.

Those who bring God’s message to people are often opposed. Being a spokesman for God is rarely fun. It often brings great distress and pain. God’s messengers face opposition, ridicule, and sometimes violence against them.

A messenger of God doesn’t choose his assignment or his message. It is given by God. Despite the difficulty, the messenger has to be faithful to what God has called him to do and told him to preach.

Are you willing to be God’s messenger to the people around you, even when it’s a tough assignment?

His, by Grace,

Steve