Devotion: Are We Divine Disruptors?

Have you been found disruptive?

Are we divine disruptors? These words may seem contradictory. Disruption doesn’t feel divine unless you are on the receiving end, where you are valued and cared for—much like justice.

Amos, a bible guy, is often called a prophet, but he never saw himself that way. He was a simple man who spent much of his life as a fig tree grower. He didn’t live an affluent life filled with material possessions or the latest trends. Instead, he led an ordinary life until God called him to something greater. Though Amos came from the southern region of Judah, God sent him to the northern part of Israel and surrounding nations. This caught my attention. Amos’ example for us is very good and telling of his trust and devotion. First, Amos said "yes" to answering the call to go. The next, would be ‘where’ will my assignment be? He wasn’t sent to the local soup kitchen. He had to pick up and move. Will we be found living that way today?

Under King Jeroboam's reign, the northern kingdom experienced significant material prosperity. However, this material growth was overshadowed by moral decay. Amos' heart was stirred for the people in the north, but it was not just a feel of concern; it was a profound urgency. Have you ever felt such urgency—a nudging that won’t allow you to remain still? Amos recognized the moral decline and felt called by God to speak out against it. His call was to bring the truth to a society that had abandoned it. When reflecting on this, I can't help but think of preachers like Billy Graham, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Leonard Ravenhill, and Charles Spurgeon. Their messages were bold. They didn’t hesitate. They were urgent and stood firm on God’s truths, making a huge impact on the world. Did you know that Billy Graham has shared the Gospel with more people worldwide than anyone else to date? I was among those who experienced his ministry firsthand at one of his crusades. Have you attended? People waited in line for hours—sometimes all day—to enter the stadium. He had charisma and there was a urgency when he spoke. What he didn't rely on was emotionalism to move audiences. He never pointed fingers or shook his fists. Instead, he delivered the simple Gospel to the people. It was the moving of the Holy Spirit that moved the hearts to transformation. The Gospel message is not hard to grasp. It requires someone bold enough to speak it with urgency the ear that will be willing to hear and a heart to surrender. Where are these bold, rock-solid preachers today? There is no shortage of preachers available at every corner and easily accessed online. However, the landscape feels different now.

On my own quest for truth, I have found a few modern-day counterparts to Billy Graham and Leonard Ravenhill who have encouraged me to stay the course with fervent prayer and urgency. I encourage you to go out and find them and connect. The difference I hope you experience is their commitment to sharing the pure Word of God—not merely their own interpretations or popular messages. They focus on the Word alone, not on trends or emotional gimmicks designed to attract a crowd.

If you are in tune with the Spirit of God, you can differentiate between the truth and those who misrepresent it. The truth will indeed set us free.

We should not wait to be called like Amos to be a divine disrupter. We have already been called to go out. As messengers of the greater message of the gospel.—The Holy Spirit completes the work within us. We are called to “speak the truth in love.” How are we doing in fulfilling that call? Let’s return to Amos. He was fed up. While most prophets scattered messages of redemption and restoration throughout their prophecies against Israel and Judah, Amos devoted only the final five verses of his prophecy to such consolation. Before those last five verses, God's word through Amos was directed at the privileged people of Israel—a people who showed no love for their neighbors, took advantage of others, and only looked out for their own interests. The book of Amos holds God's people accountable for their mistreatment of others more than almost any other book of Scripture. It repeatedly points out their failure to fully embrace God’s idea of justice. They were exploiting the needy for material gain, taking advantage of the helpless, oppressing the poor, and men were using women immorally (Amos 2:6–8; 3:10; 4:1; 5:11–12; 8:4–6).

When God called the fig tree-growing man out of the field, he could not remain silent upon witnessing the plight of the rest of the world. He was deeply troubled by the chaos around him. God called him to be a divine disruptor of the truth.

Are we deeply troubled today with what we see going on around us too? Do we remain silent or is there that urgency pushing us to go out?

Drunk on their own success and intent on growing their IRA’s, the people had lost sight of caring for one another. Amos rebuked them because he recognized that this lifestyle proved Israel's choice to leave God behind. In the northern kingdom, their outward lives were all tidy and full of riches, while their inner lives were wasting away of moral decay. Instead of seeking opportunities to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly, they embraced arrogance, idolatry, self-righteousness, and materialism. Amos clearly communicated God’s utter disdain for the hypocritical lives of His people (Amos 5:21–24).

It’s important to note that Amos spoke of God's disdain, not merely his opinion; our opinions can be dismissed, but the Word of God never returns void. Our world today resembles that of the northern kingdom where Amos offered his rebuke. But where are the Amos’s of today? Have you noticed that if someone speaks loudly and proudly about Jesus, they are often labeled as 'freaks'? I'm sure Amos faced verbal beatings and was often ignored or dismissed, but he never stopped proclaiming the truth as it was. He used their immorality to highlight the truth and made them aware of their choices.

Ultimately, everyone has the freedom to choose, but on that last day, we will not be able to deny the truth. Amos heard the voice of God and was unafraid to share that truth; he was living on assignment for it. Do we see our own lives lived out this way? What does that mean for us today? As believers, what’s our typical first response? "Let's pray about that," or "Let's pray for them." We might even organize specific prayer services. Is this wrong? Absolutely not. Prayer is 100% effective, but it can also become a safety net. Injustice is filling our world, yet as Christians, we often turn a blind eye to the suffering of others in favor of what we perceive as “more important” work, such as praying, preaching, and teaching. Are those truly more important, or can there be a balance between the two?

The book of Amos reminds us that while such works are central to a believer’s life, they ring hollow when we fail to love and serve others. This is uncomfortable. Do we sometimes fall into the safety net of prioritizing prayer over service? I think we do. Prayer is certainly effective, and it’s easier. That’s where the trap lies.

It’s easier to pray than to take action. What holds us back from going on assignment with God?

Prayer should accompany us wherever we are. When we are called out like Amos was, will we respond? That is a significant question we all need to wrestle with. Will we go forth with prayer when called? The book of Amos teaches us that both are essential. God has called Christians not only to have a relationship with Him but also to be in relationships with others. The crucial question is: will we venture out or remain tucked away in our safe spaces? Will we speak out, or will we remain silent out of fear of being dismissed or damaging our reputation? Both outcomes are likely, and it’s risky, but we are called, just like Amos, to boldly speak the truth with urgency.

God isn’t calling all of us to be a Leonard Ravenhill or a Billy Graham, but He commands each of us to boldly proclaim His name in every season. With my final breath, I long to be found a faithful servant. What about you too? Time is short for us and for Christ’s return; we don't know the hour. Let’s prepare and live ready, moving our feet and listening for God’s voice amidst the noise. Let’s be divine disruptors! The early Church was rooted in poverty and persecution; today’s church often clings to prosperity and popularity. Leonard Ravenhill said, "When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost." Billy Graham said, "If you want to be popular, preach happiness. If you aim to be unpopular, preach holiness." Paul’s gospel is about sacrifice, not success. Five minutes in eternity, and we will wish we had sacrificed more and loved more!

• "Dear children, let us love not just in words but in actions and truth." 1 John 3:18

• "Present yourself to God as one approved." 2 Timothy 2:15

• "Stand firm with the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness." Ephesians 6:14

The Gospel isn’t read – it’s revealed! Let’s be disruptive in and for the name of Jesus.