MONDAY, JANUARY 2
Scripture: Amos 3:1-8

Amos ministered after the time of Obadiah, Joel and Jonah and just before Hosea, Micah and Isaiah. Amos ministered during a season of significant prosperity where Assyria, Babylon, Syria and Egypt were relatively weak. The people of Israel could hardly believe or imagine the coming disaster predicted by Amos. However, it was only three decades away. The job of Amos was to speak the Word of the Lord in warning about what was coming to Israel if they did not change. Amos was faithful, to proclaim the word that God gives in Amos 3:1-8 which says, “Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying: ‘You only have I known of all the families of the earth; Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.” Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? Will a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he has caught nothing? Will a bird fall into a snare on the earth, where there is no trap for it? Will a snare spring up from the earth, if it has caught nothing at all? If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the Lord have done it? Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy?’” Reading the prophets makes us realize what God considered a successful ministry. History does not record that the people actually heard or acted on what Amos preached. But Amos stood faithfully and declared the Word of the Lord that he had been given. As a result, God commissioned him to write a prophetic book of Scripture. It shows us the faithfulness of God and it shows us the power of the prophetic. Let’s look at the truth of verse 6 and ask ourselves if we have this today. God considers a ministry successful when it is obedient and does what He calls it to do. Amos was a success even though Israel still went into captivity.