There’s a quiet battle going on in my house. As my middle son inches toward standing at six feet, he really longs to “beat” my oldest, who stands at 6’2”. The lines we’ve traced on the white doorway trim in between our kitchen and family room announce the progress in this battle.
I appreciate the objectivity of that door frame. We dutifully measure and, without comment, allow the marks on the trim to speak their truth—their pronouncement is clear.
In today’s passage, I’m reminded of the stalwart metric of that penciled-in door frame. But first, a confession: I don’t know about you, but I can catch myself categorizing God’s attributes. Without realizing it, I might see the God of love as positive and good while the God of justice feels negative and maybe scary.These verses show a collision of His love and justice, nestled in neighboring lines on the page. As God showed Amos his judgment for Israel’s wicked ways—first a vision of destruction by locusts and then of devastation by fire—Amos begged for forgiveness for God’s people. God relented. Twice. Even as His people rebelled, His faithful love showed.
He chose instead a measure of judgment, different but not unlike our white-trimmed kitchen door frame. He places a plumb line as a clear metric of Israel’s growth toward or away from God. The hitch is that the plumb line stays while God departs (Amos 7:8). The NKJV translates the same verse, “He will no longer pass by.” What’s worse? Enduring calamity and destruction as a consequence, or hearing God will turn His back completely?
But God already knew what would happen next: Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, ignored Amos’s offered words. This supposed man of God opposes God and chooses his king. It’s heartbreaking. But it’s in Amos’s response to the priest’s threats where we find encouragement.
So Amos answered Amaziah, “I was not a prophet or the son of a prophet; rather, I was a herdsman, and I took care of sycamore figs. But the LORD took me from following the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’”
—Amos 7:14–15
Amos’s life was sheep and figs, yet he was willing to stop following the flocks to follow the Lord. Even as Israel turned, Amos stood tall against God’s plumb line, delivering His Word. No more than twenty years later, the attacks in this region began, with total ruin complete within forty years.
God’s plans always stand. His Word always remains.
You know, Amos wasn’t the first man God sent from the fields to share His Word, nor would he be the last. Soon He would send the Word to us all, another Shepherd. Our Savior, our plumb line, our friend.
May we hear when He speaks. May we go when He asks.
Happy Wednesday ladies, I am back from our short trip to a small quiet nearby scenic town. I thought of you all, and I gave praise to God when I got to be in front of a magnificent mountain by a lake side. It was so serene yet grand and breathtaking, just like our God. Sometimes big rain clouds would roll in, so dark and yet I remembered a verse that said God also dwells in the dark cloud. Little things of the trip have comforted me and pointed me to His presence. I really don’t feel these pointers as much when in the city with many distractions; His presence is most clear when I am excluded to a quiet place. Thank you so much for your prayers for our trip. The reading today reminds me of how God repents, the KJV version I read uses the word “repent”. Concordance says “repent” means: to be sorry, to be moved to pity, have compassion; to comfort, to console; to ease oneself. This reminds me of the similar instance of Moses when he asked God to repent from the wrath to kill them all in the wilderness (Exodus 32:14). Amos and Moses both acted as intercessors here, asking God for mercy, and God honoured their pleadings. This encourages me to be an intercessor through prayers for my unsaved loved ones, that their sins won’t lead to death. It’s really hard but I told myself to be patient (long suffering) in prayers. And yet, how much more that our wonderful savior Jesus is our intercessor at the right hand of God (Romans 8:34)? We are truly covered by His intercession. @Sharon Jersey Girl: amen to what you said today, pain is the fear to preach the gospel in full, the gospel will surely bring separation. Lifting our sisters in prayers (I am praying along the postings of our prayerful she’s and will be catching up in past few days). May God’s strength be with us so we can preach the word in season and out of season, correct, rebuke and encourage. Many nowadays church don’t correct or rebuke anymore, they just encourage only. May we obey the gospel in full. Be blessed dear sisters.
Lord help me to be more like Amos. How brave he was to stand strong despite all those who turned from God. I pray to grow my faith into a faith like his! It can be so hard in todays world. Sending prayers for each request and joy!
I pray that I would hold tightly to God’s truth in a world that doesn’t seem to know what truth is. It’s interesting how people in today’s world think they can make their own truth. I guess this concept has been happening for a while.
Off! Ahh that could really ruin my day but I won’t let it! Happy Wednesday ladies. Praying for you all.
@Rhonda J. Praying your husband and the outbursts! Praying you’ll find a solution to the situation! @Sarah D. So happy for you on your offer! I know this is a great step in the right direction! Praying for all of you today! I got in an annoying fender bender this morning where the person drove off
@Rhonda J. Praying your husband and the outbursts! Praying you’ll find a solution to the situation! @Sarah D. So
@Rhonda J. I’m praying for you and your husband. May God speak to your husband about how a husband is to love his wife – as Christ loved the church and died for us. May he be able to turn to God and hear His voice when he is tempted to lose his temper. And may you seek Gods strength, and patience to keep speaking Gods Word in your relationship. May God give you a spirit of peace, even in the midst of the storm.
Hallelujah that even though we may see God’s justice and discipline as harsh or scary or even mean, it’s done in and only with love! All of it is for our benefit and growth and healing and protection!