The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Amos 4:10-13. “’I sent a plague among you after the manner of Egypt; I slew your young men by the sword along with your captured horses, and I made the stench of your camp rise up in your nostrils; yet you have not returned to Me,’ declares the LORD.
11 “’I overthrew you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a firebrand snatched from a blaze; yet you have not returned to Me,’ declares the LORD.
12 “Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, O Israel.”
13 For behold, He who forms mountains and creates the wind and declares to man what are His thoughts, He who makes dawn into darkness and treads on the high places of the earth, The LORD God of hosts is His name.”

The preacher who resides outside the realm of his congregation— The preacher who yells a warning at his listeners—The preacher who lacks the ministerial credentials demanded by his hearers— is more likely to be heckled than heeded by his congregation. Yet, Amos, whose manner was crude when measured against the more cultured preachers of his time, never ceased to declare “Thus saith the LORD!”

He warned against plagues and deaths and huge loss of possessions –all brought about by the LORD.against His people because of their sin.

PREPARE TO MEET YOUR GOD, O ISRAEL! was the young man’s war cry! It’s the warning cry that we desperately need today! Schools and schoolboards support unthinkably crude and evil instructions that are foisted upon children! Never mind history and English and mathematics, as long as they learn sex! Administrative leaders and members of Congress support preposterous measures that all-the-while fill their own pockets—and they do it on the backs of the very ones who voted them into office! “None is so blind as him who will not see!”

Oh, do we ever need an Amos today! Many pastors would do well to follow Amos instead of focusing on what benefits them. Unfortunately, “What’s in it for me?” all too often supersedes “Prepare to meet thy God.” Honest pastoral responsibilities commence with a clear understanding and strong emphasis upon “Thus saith the LORD!” Instead of cheering, congregations would do well to weep! That’s Amos’ message! We will be blessed if and when we accept the LORD’s warning and attend to His business instead of our own! May God see fit to forgive us our sin!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom