I am not a prophet, but I can identify with what Amos the prophet said concerning his call by God to ministry. It was never in his plans, and being a pastor was not in my plans either. As an "untrained" man, this was one way Amos knew it was not selfish ambition or reliance upon his education which caused him to answer God's call. He wasn't just following in his father's footsteps, having inherited the family business. He was an ordinary guy who was content with a simple life, and God chose to place him in role which never entered into his mind. I can relate to this in many ways.
God commanded Amos to say many things, and they were not easy on the ears. He spoke of the punishment God would bring for the sins of the people. Amaziah the priest didn't like what Amos was saying, and he didn't like where he was saying it. He sent word to the king, accusing Amos of treason. Amaziah told Amos to leave, hinting he had no right or authority to say the things he did in Bethel. Amos 7:14-15 reads, "Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah: "I was no prophet, nor was I a son of a prophet, but I was a sheepbreeder and a tender of sycamore fruit. 15 Then the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said to me, 'Go, prophesy to My people Israel.'" Amos affirmed he had no family background or specialised training in the school of the prophets, but as he went about his business God spoke to him. It was not his choice, yet he had been ordained by God as a prophet without approval or qualifications from men. David went from tending his father's sheep to being king over all Israel, and Amos went from breeding sheep and tending sycamore trees to being a messenger of God. Peter and John were fishermen Jesus called as apostles, and I was a construction worker God called to be a pastor - in Australia!
I'm sure John never thought he would voluntarily leave his father and the family business to follow Jesus and later be a key leader in the church Jesus established. I believe Amos was content to work and remain as he was. He had no aspirations of being a prophet. But as he went about his business and was faithful to God right where he was, God spoke to him, called him out of his trade and into the role of a prophet. It was nearly an identical situation when God made me aware of His call upon my life as a pastor in His church. All sorts of thoughts flooded through my head when this was confirmed in His word and by fellow Christians. What do I do now? Do I leave my job? Do I go to seminary? For me there was the space of about three years between the realisation of the call and an unsolicited door to pastoral ministry clearly opening. What was impressed upon me then was to keep doing what I was doing, acknowledge and believe God had indeed called me, and in the meantime apply myself to seeking God and learning all I could. In the end, God did it all.
If you believe God has spoken to you and called you to a particular role in ministry or place in the world, I encourage you to do as Amos did: he kept on doing what he was doing. In due time God moved Amos from his flock and groves and moved him to Bethel, placing His words in his mouth. Amaziah saw Amos as an unqualified, perhaps even a self-absorbed impostor who ought to go away, but Amos had a charge from God he would by His grace fulfil. You never know what God has called you to or what He will call others to do. You never know to what end of the earth God will take you as you follow Him. Today we are called to faithfulness and obedience, and God will take care of us tomorrow. The God who speaks to us clearly opens doors no one can shut, and shuts doors no one can open (Revelation 3:7). You never need (nor could you) prove to sceptics you have indeed been called by God, but the important thing to remember He is the One who calls, ordains, and enables us to do anything for Him. Jesus calls out to everyone, and whilst the nature of our calling may differ, every call of God is equally important to answer in faith and obedience. We don't have the luxury of deciding God's choices, but our choice is: will we follow Him?
God commanded Amos to say many things, and they were not easy on the ears. He spoke of the punishment God would bring for the sins of the people. Amaziah the priest didn't like what Amos was saying, and he didn't like where he was saying it. He sent word to the king, accusing Amos of treason. Amaziah told Amos to leave, hinting he had no right or authority to say the things he did in Bethel. Amos 7:14-15 reads, "Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah: "I was no prophet, nor was I a son of a prophet, but I was a sheepbreeder and a tender of sycamore fruit. 15 Then the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said to me, 'Go, prophesy to My people Israel.'" Amos affirmed he had no family background or specialised training in the school of the prophets, but as he went about his business God spoke to him. It was not his choice, yet he had been ordained by God as a prophet without approval or qualifications from men. David went from tending his father's sheep to being king over all Israel, and Amos went from breeding sheep and tending sycamore trees to being a messenger of God. Peter and John were fishermen Jesus called as apostles, and I was a construction worker God called to be a pastor - in Australia!
I'm sure John never thought he would voluntarily leave his father and the family business to follow Jesus and later be a key leader in the church Jesus established. I believe Amos was content to work and remain as he was. He had no aspirations of being a prophet. But as he went about his business and was faithful to God right where he was, God spoke to him, called him out of his trade and into the role of a prophet. It was nearly an identical situation when God made me aware of His call upon my life as a pastor in His church. All sorts of thoughts flooded through my head when this was confirmed in His word and by fellow Christians. What do I do now? Do I leave my job? Do I go to seminary? For me there was the space of about three years between the realisation of the call and an unsolicited door to pastoral ministry clearly opening. What was impressed upon me then was to keep doing what I was doing, acknowledge and believe God had indeed called me, and in the meantime apply myself to seeking God and learning all I could. In the end, God did it all.
If you believe God has spoken to you and called you to a particular role in ministry or place in the world, I encourage you to do as Amos did: he kept on doing what he was doing. In due time God moved Amos from his flock and groves and moved him to Bethel, placing His words in his mouth. Amaziah saw Amos as an unqualified, perhaps even a self-absorbed impostor who ought to go away, but Amos had a charge from God he would by His grace fulfil. You never know what God has called you to or what He will call others to do. You never know to what end of the earth God will take you as you follow Him. Today we are called to faithfulness and obedience, and God will take care of us tomorrow. The God who speaks to us clearly opens doors no one can shut, and shuts doors no one can open (Revelation 3:7). You never need (nor could you) prove to sceptics you have indeed been called by God, but the important thing to remember He is the One who calls, ordains, and enables us to do anything for Him. Jesus calls out to everyone, and whilst the nature of our calling may differ, every call of God is equally important to answer in faith and obedience. We don't have the luxury of deciding God's choices, but our choice is: will we follow Him?
No comments:
Post a Comment
To uphold the integrity of this site, no comments with links for advertising will be posted. No ads here! :)