Amos 7:14-15 English Standard Version

14 Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. 15 But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’

Amos was sent by God in a time and a place where no one who served Israel was listening to the Lord. If we look for God’s grace in Amos it is not obvious to others who do not understand God’s plan.

Amos is a gracious gift to us that live now and can see we do not have to be special to be used to serve our Lord. How else would we know that God works in us even if we do not see it?

I often thank God to have been born in this generation rather than in the time of Amos and now have such a great cloud of witnesses around me that have treated me so graciously when I was broken and in need of tenderness, not judgment.

My first church experience began with tears on my part. I knew I was broken and trying desperately to find my way in a land I did not know. As the newest citizen of His Kingdom I knew nothing except I didn’t belong. I sat under some of the best teachers in any church and I learned so much. Thanks be to God for that but I only had one in that church who listened to me with a heart of grace and concern for me and my growth.

That church became a place of comfort and protection and then the one who was gracious to me left after the death of his son. I struggled once again, feeling alone and unwanted. It was about this time the Lord said “Go.” I resisted for a time until a prophet from England came and spoke at that church. It was through that prophet that the Lord made it obvious to me that I was to “Go to a place I will show you.”

My next five years were spent serving a dying wife. It was during those days that I learned what it meant to be needed and how to be faithful to do what was needed. I went from being selfish to being selfless. I did not find another church until after her death.

Then I sat under a young pastor that had the deepest understanding of the Word I had ever heard. His teachings were light in a dark place. I stayed there for a year and left because that pastor had not one ounce of grace in his life. I realized the need for grace overshadowed knowledge.

My next church was full of grace and became my home.

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

There is a difference between grace and knowledge, that is why the division word “and” was used.

Grace is an application word similar to salve that is applied to a wound. This is not something that can be taught. It has to be experienced.

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Here Paul makes reference to seasoning with salt which we all know was part of Jesus’ sermon on the mount. Reference Matthew 5:13

Paul was not one of Jesus’ disciples at that time. How did Paul know about this seasoning by gracious speech? All we have to do is read about the transition of Saul into Paul to see that he did not instantly change into his new role as a servant of the Most High.

Galatians 1:17-19 English Standard Version

17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother.

Paul’s service to the Lord did not even begin until three years after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Here we are so many years after being born again and we must ask ourselves if in fact we have grown in grace over time. If the answer is yes, then apply that salve to those who have just received the Lord and heal them of their wounds before putting them to work.

I did not know myself just how broken I was for a time. If that is true of me, it could be true of others. I have been at this for decades and I am still growing in grace. Knowledge, not so much.

What hinders us from growing in grace? Maybe it is the company we keep.

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Hint; “let us also”.