[This is one in a series of mid-week Reflections published by Horley Baptist Church during July 2020]
Back in November 2016 Michael Goble wrote a reflection in ‘Yours’ in which he recounted how he had been called to step outside of his comfort zone. In one example he spoke of dancing in church and another of acting as chaplain to a youth group. Michael’s conclusion was “If that is truly His will for you then by His Spirit He will give you the power to do it”.[1]
The prophet Amos was called to step outside his comfort zone. He describes himself thus: ‘I was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. But the LORD took me from tending the flock and said to me, “Go, prophesy to my people Israel.”’ He found himself transferred from a rural setting into the court of the king of Israel where he had to deliver a message that was unpopular with the people of his day. The core of his message was that the nation of Israel – the people of God – had turned their backs on Him and were now headed for destruction.
As we see the news reports of post-lockdown reactions, do we too see evidence of people who have no interest in God? As a mass of humanity releases pent-up frustrations, whether at the barricade or the beach, how do we react? In Luke 18 Jesus described the religious approach: ‘The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: “God, I thank you that I am not like other people – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector.”’ In the following chapter Jesus shows his own reaction: “As he … saw the city, he wept over it”.
In the days of Amos, the people rejected the warning from God and in due course they were taken into exile, the religious along with the ungodly. Yet the book of Amos has a positive ending:
“I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant them upon their land, and they shall never again be plucked up out of the land that I have given them, says the LORD your God.”
We spend most of our lives trying to make ourselves comfortable. Maybe Psalm 119 offers a better approach: “I remember, Lord, your ancient laws, and I find comfort in them.”
.
[1] Available on this site at I Feel Like Dancing
~~~~~~~~
.
Return to Mid-week Meditations
Jump to Index of Bible Passages
.
Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © the Author
