Scripture: Amos 7:7-15
There are many important people in my life. People that have inspired me and taken me by surprise. One example is my step-dad, I have always considered him to be one of my heros. When ever I was in a bind he always seemed to know what to do. I went off the road once when it was icy out, (this was actually a common occurance) and I called home on my cell phone only to hear my mom tell me he was aready on his way. The amazing thing ishe knew where I was and had the tools to fix the fence I went through already. I lived in a small town so I am sure someone called before I got to a place with cellular signal. Another time I was helping him move heavy sides to a grain trailer. He was running the tractor and I was hooking up he chains. Well the chain broke and this huge piece of metal came crashing down on my back, before I even knew what hit me, my dad had thrown the thing off of me. Luckily I was not injured, that part is a miracle but my dad was a hero in my book.
My dad taught me a great deal. He taught me what it ment to be a follower of Jesus. He lived the life as a Christian witness, every time we went to the local gas station he encouraged the people that were working. He never once argured or judged them but was friendly and encouraged them to come with him to church. After several years some of these guys are going to tha little church in the middle of nowhere that I call home. He would also preach occasionaly when our pastor was on vacation.
My other dad, that is right I am lucky enough to have a biological father and a step father that were very involved in my life two, would do similar things. He would play his guitar for camps, and churches when ever he was asked, sometimes I would get to go along. He would go out to run the sound system for community events, and would also fill the pulpit if asked.
Both would not say they were anything more than simple men. Although they are both great men. When I read about Amos I am often reminded of my dads. They would speak whe needed, act when they should, but they never really thought they were fully called into a ministry of preaching the gospel. Amos did not get to speak a very encouraging message unfortunatly, it was well received by those that heard it.
The Lord gave him a vision of a wall with a plumb line in the hand of God. The line was a standard, used to ensure the wall was straight. It is clear that God was going to judge the nation of Israel. The king and priests were upset and told Amos to go somewhere else to speak, but that would not matter Amos was not the judge God was. Amos said I’m not a prophet or even a son of a prophet. What is he saying? Well simply speaking he is saying I have nothing to judge you on I saw a vision and that’s it. He goes on to say I’m just a herdsman and a dresser of trees. Meaning that he is a simple man living a simple life, not wishing to be or be seen as anything more than a simple man.
My dads are simple men but they are also powerful preacher in word and deed. They step up when they need to. That is a hero, that is what caused me to consider my own life with God more seriously. What would cause ordinary men to step up to do somethin they normally would not do? Well long story short we do not know who is watching. We do not even know why they are watching. These people are the people we are working with at our jobs, the ones that are scanning our items at the store, and the people caught with us in traffic. How are we as commom people responding? It is the ordinary people that affect us the most. Not the preacher or the prophet, but the people that live the life with God wherever they are. The ones that preach the gospel with how they react.
Today as you pray and walk a life with and toward Christ, let us remember who is holding the plumb line. We should also check yourself to that line. People are watching us and our actons are preaching louder than any preacher’s words. That’s kindof scary I know. We cannot live up to that standard, but Christ can. So letus live a life reflecting Christ.
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