Devotion - Tuesday, Dec 8

Before coming to Clemson I was a pastor in Houghton, Michigan.  In that town, there were six different Lutheran denominations.  (Did you realize there are some 30+ Lutheran denominations in the US?)  Most of those Lutheran denominations did not have professional clergy.  In fact, they would repeat the Jesus statement about "the hired hand does not love the sheep" as justification for not having "professional" pastors.

Crazy, right?

But when I read the book of Amos (which is one of my favorites) I come up against the same argument.  Amos warned God's people about their complacency; the professional prophets (think clergy or teaching theologians in our day) said everything was fine.  These folks even tried to shew Amos away, telling him to "flee away to the land of Judah, and (make your living there)."  Amos 7:10-17 is the story.

Amos points out that he isn't interested in making a living.  That he makes his living as a day laborer.  This whole business of being a prophet is new to him.  Not a position he trained for or ever sought.  He is a layman; not a church professional.

Never become dependent upon folks like me to tell you everything you need to know about God and God's will in the world.  What do we call that?  "Drinking the cool-aid"?  Become and be your own prophet.  Now, I hope and pray you will do that with a great deal of reflection and study and prayer.  But trust what God is saying to you and speak that message to others.

Take a 20 minute study break and read the book  of Amos.  He is among the books called the "Minor Prophets," but his message scores major points.  The read will be well worth your time.