Amos 7:10-15

“Then Amos answered Amaziah, ‘I am no prophet, nor a prophet’s son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, and the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, “Go, prophesy to my people Israel.”’” vss. 14-15

Amos wasn’t an insider. He didn’t even consider himself a prophet. Yet the Lord had chosen him, a shepherd and a farmer, to travel to the shrine at Bethel in the country of Israel, where there was already a boatload of priests, and call the people to repentance. Not surprisingly, he was not well received by the priestly hierarchy. But his words were not only memorable, they’ve traveled well! And wherever God’s people have gotten caught up in the excesses of luxurious and idolatrous living Amos continues to speak. We can’t read his hard-hitting commentary without feeling the bite of his harsh words. He may not have been properly credentialed or gone to the right seminaries but there’s no doubt that he is calling on us to change our ways and reverse the standards of our system. And that’s how God continues to work. Sometimes we see it in our congregations as ordinary people speak compelling words from the Lord. We might not like what they say, but when they’ve hit the bullseye, all we can do is listen.

Thought for the Day: From what unlikely folks have I heard a convicting word?