The prophet Amos had the unenviable job of delivering prophecies of wrath and gloom upon Israel and its surrounding nations. When in the town of Bethel, Amaziah, the local priest confronted him. He accused him of peddling his prophetic wares for profit and told him to go back to where he came from. Amos informed him that he didn’t have much say in his mission, insisting: “I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet; for I am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs. But the LORD took me from following the flock and the LORD said to me, ‘Go prophesy to My people Israel’” (Amos 7:14-15).
Here was a man, who while going about his farm duties, was called to do a job that he believed was reserved for anyone else but himself. He was not a ‘Prophet,’ and he had never thought of enrolling himself in a Prophet Training School. When having agreed to God’s call, God put His Spirit upon him, and he went forth and prophesied. I have my doubts, given the grave nature of the messages, he proclaimed, that Amos had one single moment of joy. Northern Israel was in a time of great prosperity, and the last thing they wanted to believe was that they were going to be taken into captivity—something that happened 30 years later in 722BC.
Today, about 2700 years on, one thing is still for sure. When it comes to the ‘not so great jobs’ the people of God are still split up into two groups. Group One says: ‘God wants this done; I’ll do it!’ Group Two says, ‘Not my thing!’
I have no idea what will befall the church in the future. I still believe that revival is before us. But today is the day that God calls us to work in. It contains its own set of troubles and blessings to rejoice in. The Day of Salvation sits in this moment – It is our mission. Step-up and never let yourself be heard saying: “Not my thing!”
John Staiger
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