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17 September 2007
Amos 7 v 14-17
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. You tell me, 'Don't prophesy against Israel, and stop prophesying against the descendants of Isaac.'
"Because you have said this, the LORD says:
'Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will be killed with swords.
Other people will measure your land and divide it among themselves, and you will die in a foreign country. The people of Israel will definitely be taken from their own land as captives.' "
Do your actions reflect who you are? As a Christian do you say and do all the right things, but then happily embrace and accept all the trappings of everyday life, or do you try and live as God wants - by listening to Him? It's not an easy thing to do and I'm by no means perfect.
Amaziah is said to be a priest, yet he is happy to live by the way of men, doing what he does and accepting the status.
Amos on the other hand doesn't have status - he is just a regular guy, a shepherd, nothing important. However, he gives up everything he has to deliver God's message and no matter how hard it is to deliver he doesn't deviate or opt out!
Have you ever had to tell someone something awkward, knowing that they will not react well to the message?
That's the situation Amos finds himself in.
Lord, I ask that you help me be who you want me to be. Help me do what you want me to do. Help me say what you want me to say. Amen
Written by Louisa Haynes
Amos 7 v 14-17
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. You tell me, 'Don't prophesy against Israel, and stop prophesying against the descendants of Isaac.'
"Because you have said this, the LORD says:
'Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will be killed with swords.
Other people will measure your land and divide it among themselves, and you will die in a foreign country. The people of Israel will definitely be taken from their own land as captives.' "
Do your actions reflect who you are? As a Christian do you say and do all the right things, but then happily embrace and accept all the trappings of everyday life, or do you try and live as God wants - by listening to Him? It's not an easy thing to do and I'm by no means perfect.
Amaziah is said to be a priest, yet he is happy to live by the way of men, doing what he does and accepting the status.
Amos on the other hand doesn't have status - he is just a regular guy, a shepherd, nothing important. However, he gives up everything he has to deliver God's message and no matter how hard it is to deliver he doesn't deviate or opt out!
Have you ever had to tell someone something awkward, knowing that they will not react well to the message?
That's the situation Amos finds himself in.
Lord, I ask that you help me be who you want me to be. Help me do what you want me to do. Help me say what you want me to say. Amen
Written by Louisa Haynes
