Today’s Reading: Amos 1-3, Psalm 14

Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?
Does a lion ever roar in a thicket without first finding a victim?
Does a young lion growl in its den without first catching its prey?
Does a bird ever get caught in a trap that has no bait?
Does a trap spring shut when there’s nothing to catch?
When the ram’s horn blows a warning, shouldn’t the people be alarmed?
Does disaster come to a city unless the Lord has planned it?
Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything
until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets.
The lion has roared — so who isn’t frightened?
The Sovereign Lord has spoken —
so who can refuse to proclaim his message? – Amos 3:3-8

God used MANY prophets during the days of the kings to warn His people of what was ahead, an attempt to draw them out of their sin and back to Him. They knew that if they kept rebelling against God that they would be punished. They had been warned over and over again. They knew what was expected of them, and they knew that they were not living the way God had called them to. They could not claim ignorance because they were fully aware of their rebellion.

Not only did God use the prophets, he used anyone with a willing and obedient heart. Amos was one of those men. Amos did not consider himself a prophet; he was simply a shepherd with a heart open to doing anything God asked him to do, even if he felt unqualified.

“I’m not a professional prophet, and I was never trained to be one. I’m just a shepherd, and I take care of sycamore fig trees. But the Lord called me away from my flock and told me, ‘Go and prophesy to my people in Israel.’” – Amos 7:14-15

I’M JUST A SHEPHERD WITH A WILLING HEART.

I love how Amos was just minding his own business, doing his own thing, when God called him away to do His work and Amos responded with a willing heart. This is in direct contrast to how Jonah initially responded to God, and it was during a time when God’s people were ignoring the voice of God.

This is what the Lord says: “The people of Judah have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! – Amos 2:4a

The time had come for God to punish His people. He had warned them over and over again; the Lord had forgiven generation after generation. The heart of God was revealed even in this declaration of the coming destruction, for God had displayed His grace time and time again. He had patiently waited for His people to stop sinning and turn their adulterous hearts back to their Creator, but they refused.

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. – 2 Peter 3:9

Even in the midst of judgment, God was calling His people to the covenant relationship He had created them for. If only they would cry out to Him with sincere repentance, He would have mercy on them. His desire was to draw them closer to Him, but it required them to choose Him — to run back into His loving arms.

“Come back to me and live!…
Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live!
Then the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed.
Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice.
Perhaps even yet the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will have mercy on the remnant of his people.” – Amos 5:4b,14-15

Is there an area of your life that you need to surrender to God? Has the Spirit revealed sin that needs confessed or disobedience that needs submission? Is it time for us to stop feigning innocence or claiming ignorance? He is calling you to run towards the life He designed for you; God wants you to trust Him through the struggles of life rather than pretend you do not know what to do next.

YOU DON’T GET TO CLAIM IGNORANCE.

Father God, we are listening to you this morning. May we hear your voice calling us back to a place of loving what is good and hating what is evil. May our hearts be fully devoted to you, and may we respond in obedience to anything you ask us to do. Thank you for your patience with us and for the mercy you so generously display. Amen.