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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Sunday, 5 December 21:
Note: Here is a short video overview of Amos: https://thebibleproject.com/explore/amos/
Amos 1:1 – “The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa.”
God used Amos, a simple shepherd and farmer, to pronounce judgment against Israel, rather than one of the many religious leaders or political leaders of the day. A pattern in the Bible is that God uses insignificant people in powerful ways for His glory. While people honor titles, positions, talents, skills, and abilities, God honors fidelity and commitment to Him and His will. Amos was given God’s word, and he proclaimed it immediately and boldly, holding nothing back. God has called us to be ambassadors for Christ, entrusted with the Gospel message of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:18-21) How might God use simple but faithfully committed messengers in our day?
- 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 — For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
Psalm 144:1 — Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.
David, a simple shepherd, was an unlikely choice to be King of Israel, but God said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature…. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) God empowered David for the work He had prepared for Him, and today’s Psalms are a reminder that, like Amos, David’s success depended on the Lord and not on his own abilities. Likewise, God has called us to spread the Gospel, make disciples, and transform our environments. Our success depends on His abilities, not ours. God doesn’t need the world to see what you can do. God wants the world to see what He can do through simple people like you and me. God is more interested in your trustworthiness than your talents, your allegiance than your age or abilities, your genuineness than your gender, your earnestness than your education, your faithfulness than your finances and fitness, your steadfastness than your social station or status, your loyalty than your location, and your willingness than your wealth. Test and see what God will do in your life for His glory when you are willing to be faithful, one day at a time, with the moment at hand.
- Isaiah 6:8-9 — 8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” And he said, “Go….
- Jeremiah 1:7 — But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
- Romans 10:14-15 — How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 5 December 21: Trust in the Lord, and proclaim the Gospel boldly today.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 