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| Volume 23 Number 9 September 2021 |
Page 15 |
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| Volume 23 Number 9 September 2021 |
Page 15 |
D.A. Adenugba
Amos, the sheep breeder and sycamore tree farmer, was a bold prophet of the Lord, called to work for the Lord (Amos 7:14-15). Amaziah was not a prophet of the Lord. We briefly compare and contrast Amos and Amaziah [not to be confused with a king of Judah by the same name, 2 Chronicles 25:1] and note that man’s debilities and inadequacies are no limitations to God when He resolves to use someone.
Amaziah was not a priest of the Lord, either. Rather, he was the priest of King Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. Jeroboam was the first king in the northern kingdom of divided Israel. He created idols in Dan (north) and Bethel (south) for the northern faction of Israel to worship (1 Kings 12:25-29). He abandoned his Maker for dumb idols, to his ruin and the annihilation of his entire family. Amaziah was a priest of the idol at Bethel. Amos was not a priest, but a prophet of the Living God; he was not a prophet of King Jeroboam and of idols.
The name Amaziah, which was borne by four persons in the Old Testament, means “The Strength of the Lord” (Amos 7:10, 12, 14; 1 Chronicles 4:34; 6:45; 2 Chronicles 25:27). Amos, from Tekoa in Judah, means “Burden” (Amos 1:1).
Amaziah lied against the prophet Amos that he conspired against the king and that “the land is not able to bear all his words” (Amos 7:10 NKJV). Amaziah could not withstand the truth in Amos’s message, so he demanded his exit from Bethel to dwell in Judah. Could blackmailing of Amaziah against Amos help Israel from not being swept into captivity (Amos 7:10-13)?
Truth and falsehood cannot exist together (2 Corinthians 6:14-17). The latter will give way for the former since no one can do anything against the truth (2 Corinthians 13:8). Amos was not the son of a prophet, yet God summoned him. Amos was a farmer (Amos 7:14-15) and neither a deceiver nor a broadcaster of falsehood. He accepted the call of God and prophesied against Israel for its sins (Amos 7:16-17). Amaziah was a priest of an abominable idol. He worked for King Jeroboam and lived on falsehood and disseminating deceit.
Regardless of your profession, preach and teach the Gospel. Yes, work for the Lord actively and diligently, rather than for idols (Jeremiah 48:10). God can make good use of you if you permit (2 Timothy 2:20). Irrespective of your knowledge, skill, physique and inadequacies, there are no barriers to God when He is ready to utilize you. Just make yourself available for His use.
Recall Moses, the stammerer, and the youthful Jeremiah (Exodus 4:11-12; Jeremiah 1:5-6). Timothy’s ailment and Paul’s infirmities were mitigated as God employed them for His use and glory (1 Timothy 5:23; 2 Corinthians 12:5-10). God will give you sense, power and wisdom. You can be used for God’s glory and honour. Only, make yourself available to God for His great use!
God’s Love Is Amazing and Incredible!
Mark N. Posey
God’s love through Jesus Christ is multileveled and manifold in source, force, and course! Notice the following.
God’s love has a source! “God is love”(1 John 4:8 NKJV). God is light (1 John 1:5); God is Spirit (John 4:24) and God is Fire (Hebrews 12:29). However, the most glorious attribute of His essence is love (Ephesians 2:4). In matters of Truth – unity! In matters of opinion – liberty! In all things – love! God’s love is wide enough to include all humans! God’s love is long enough to last through all eternity! God’s love is deep enough to reach the lowest sinner! God’s love is high enough to take us to Heaven!
God’s love has a force! “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). God is able to raise children from rocks (Matthew 3:9), restore the fallen (Romans 11:20), abound in grace (2 Corinthians 9:8), deliver (Daniel 3:17), protect (Jude 24) and more (Ephesians 3:20-21). One of the greatest abilities of God, though, is to completely save those who come to Him through Jesus (Hebrews 7:25). This salvation is unchanging, secure and permanent (John 14:6). “Uttermost” means, “completely, perfectly, utterly.” We know power (force): light that can blind, wind that can topple and fire that can melt, but God’s power is greater. “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). God is omnipotent (i.e., unlimited power)! God’s love is the most powerful force in the universe!
God’s love has a course! “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). God’s love reaches to the young and old, rich and poor, male and female, and strong and weak. “The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win; His erring child He reconciled and pardoned from his sin” (Song: “The Love of God”). Powerful! God loves the world (John 3:16), Jesus loves the church (Ephesians 5:25) and Christ loves me (Galatians 2:20). God did not wait until the world turned to Him for love before He gave Jesus as our sacrifice; God demonstrated His love to sinners by His Son’s death (Romans 5:8). Compare 1 John 4:20, which reads, “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?”
Years ago, a poorly dressed boy walked several miles through the snowy streets of Chicago, determined to attend a Sunday School on the opposite side of the city from which he lived. When he arrived, he was asked, “Why did you come to a Sunday School so far away? Why didn’t you go to one near your home?” He answered simply, “Because you love a fellow over here.” Oscar Hammerstein once said, “A bell’s not a bell ‘til you ring it - A song’s not a song ‘til you sing it - Love in your heart wasn’t put there to stay - Love isn’t love ‘til you give it away!” Thank God for His amazing and incredible love! Those that receive it are blessed; those that possess it are rich!