Breath Exchange

Read Amos 1-4
 
Amos 1:1-2 This message was given to Amos, a shepherd from the town of Tekoa in Judah. He received this message in visions two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam II, the son of Jehoash, was king of Israel. 2 This is what he saw and heard: “The Lord roars from his Temple on Mount Zion; his voice thunders from Jerusalem! Suddenly, the lush pastures of the shepherds dry up. All the grass on Mount Carmel withers and dies.” (Archeological excavations have uncovered evidence of a violent earthquake in Samaria about 760 B.C.)
 
WHAT’S your job? Do you believe your work disqualifies you from being God’s messenger? Guess what?  It doesn’t.
   Amos was a shepherd. He was among the lowest professions in Israel. Who would listen to a shepherd? But then, God spoke. “Be my messenger, Amos. Speak what they must know.” Amos left the sheep in Judah to enter Israel’s court. And we’re reading this shepherd’s voice 3,000 years later!
   Amos began with the prophecy of natural disasters. Drought will dry the pastures and the fertile land around Carmel. This is one of Israel’s prosperous farming areas still today. God is striking his people in their best land.
   Do you notice God often uses drought as a means to judge? It’s an appropriate picture. Drought correlates with stunted growth and lost crops, vital for life.
   This also points to our physical relationship with the Creator’s many diverse plants. For example, trees produce oxygen into the air while absorbing the carbon dioxide we breathe into the air. Our lungs help give life to the trees, and the trees help give life to our lungs. A dry land with fewer, vibrant trees reduces the optimum breath of life. Well-watered land enhances all plant and animal life to its fullest potential.
   From the day God breathed life into the man, God’s will has been breathing full life into humanity. The LORD’s breath has spoken his promises to point us to a full life with him. He spoke his purpose to the patriarchs, his law to Moses and his justice to the prophets. The LORD God extended his life-breath to Israel, but they refused to inhale his words. They became dry in spirit. In response, the Holy God used Amos to breathe out a violent message that God’s patience was ending. He would come to breathe judgment. The Lord roars from his Temple on Mount Zion; his voice thunders from Jerusalem! God’s life breath would sound in the heavens and shake the earth as he judged Israel from his Holy Mountain.
   When we consider God’s holy justice, we should be constantly in awe he now breathes his salvation into our souls. The gospels record how Jesus breathed out the Holy Spirit onto his disciples. And he spoke of the Holy Spirit being a wind to bring life. Then the Holy Spirit touched the apostles at Pentecost to give them salvation’s life breath to speak to the world. When God speaks, life changes.
   How wonderful it is to inhale God’s Word through the scriptures, sermons and teachings. Then we can breathe out his word back to him through prayer, praise, thanksgiving, forgiveness, mercy and song. This is our breath exchange with God. Breathe in. Breathe out. And know a full vibrant life.