Have you seen the effects of a famine? Have you felt sorry for the people experiencing it? Have you done anything to help those people? Have you considered what it would be like to live through a famine? How would you and your family survive a famine?
Famines are devasting to a population. The lack of food and water takes a both a physical and mental toll on people. It can cause people to do things they would not normally do. Violence can break out to control what little food and water is available.
What if the famine was not food and water but of hearing God’s Word? Imagine the results of people not listening to God’s guidance and instruction. Imagine how people would decide to do whatever they wanted. Imagine the lies people would tell, the crime committed, the violence, the shamelessness, the degradation of society. Are we seeing it today?
How can we bring relief to such a famine? We can speak God’s Word. That does not mean we all must be preachers. We can merely speak God’s Word in answer to situations people are experiencing. We can quote or paraphrase God’s Word in response to questions or during our conversations. We can use the wisdom in God’s Word to advise others.
We may be experiencing a famine of sorts of God’s Word being spoken. There is a shortage of pastors to preach God’s Word and care for God’s people. With such a shortage, we need more followers of Jesus to step into the void to speak God’s Word to those in need of hearing it in everyday life. Each one of us can help fill the gap.
I pray we all choose to address the famine of hearing God’s Word. I pray we use God’s Word to speak wisdom to others. I pray each one of us care for others and use God’s Word to give advice. Speak God’s Word. Fill the void. Use God’s wisdom. Care for people. Apply God’s Word to everyday life.
Amos 8:11
The time is surely coming, says the Lord God,
when I will send a famine on the land,
not a famine of bread or a thirst for water,
but of hearing the words of the Lord.
Marty Pressey 