God Uses The Simplest Of Lives To Tell Of His Love

Amos 1:1-2 -  The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa--what he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.  He said: "The LORD roars from Zion and thunders from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds dry up, and the top of Carmel withers."

 

Amos was called of God while shepherding his families sheep out in the fields one day. He was given the task of delivering God’s words of judgment to the cities that had treated his people in a corrupt way.   God was displeased with the sin that existed in those places and was going to destroy each one .

 

Amos was not a priest…or the son of one.  He was not born a prophet.  He was called while he provided a the man power to watch his families sheep.  It was a hard job…requiring many hours of exposure to all kinds of weather. You slept with your sheep…usually guarding the opening to the sheepfold at night.

 

The job Amos did for God was so important that his simple story made it to the Bible. God must have chosen him for his heart instead of his status. He was just as important to God as the wisest king Solomon in all his splendor. He became one of the first laymen preachers…. God using him to warn the people of coming judgment.

 

It is a reminder to me that God uses all people to spread his message of love to others. No matter how simple your day job might seem…God has a plan to use you to speak his truth to others.  He might call you out with a vision as he did Amos…or he might leave you just where you are to model for others a strong Christian life…to be an example to the ones he placed you near. God uses all people…and the simplest of workers to do his work.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that All people are valuable to you ….that all of us are called…even in our simple lives to spread the truth of your love. Forgive me for the times that I have not seen my job as a calling to show your love…and wished for a grander way to be used.  Help me to bloom where you have planted me…and show your love to all the people you allow to cross my path. Amen.