Amos

We did not always have the faith that has sustained us through these two years. When Melissa and I met, we were in something of a similar place, faith wise. I was new to the faith, looking to get grounded. I know the word now is that I was looking for someone to “disciple” me. Melissa had grown up in church, fallen out of the habit, and was looking to get back connected with God.

Of all things, I think we cemented our relationship at a Pentecostal revival. Brother Moxley was preaching at Old Paris Road Church of God here in Lexington. I don’t think it is too much to say that Melissa found relief from some burdens on her heart. From that revival on, things seemed different. It wasn’t just that we were in love and all that, but more that we had some understanding between us about the place God would have in our lives.

And so, over the years, we dug deeper, were surrounded by a great church, studied the Bible, worshipped, got involved with some folks who taught us to pray. I am not sure I could write down all the stuff that went into making us who we are. Somehow, we found a faith that trusts God in all things.

When we were first married, we would read the minor prophets at night before we went to bed. Doesn’t sound too romantic, but all I can say about that is that when it came time for the Bible Competency Exam at seminary, I got 100% on the Law and The Prophets… and Melissa was always sold out to Amos after that. Her heart of compassion came not simply from the words of Jesus, but also from recognizing how much Jesus’ ministry was informed by the Old Testament, esp a prophet like Amos.

Her most powerful prayers, the ones that used to scare me to think if she got what she was asking for, rolled like something Amos would have asked for. Perhaps more than anything else, I wish the people at The Rock La Roca could have been infected with her twin passions of plain faith in Jesus and simple work for justice. If she was talking about having faith in Christ, it would end up in a response to ease suffering. If she was talking about justice, it always came back to the necessity of saving faith in Christ. She was sold out to calling those who have faith in Christ to act like it, and for those who came to the church with needs, she was sure that more than some diapers, food, or help with rent, they really needed faith in Jesus. Plain faith in the blood of Jesus, not simply an abstract “spirituality.”

Her favorite verse from Amos is: “I will make that time like mourning for an only son,” (8:10). Amos is prophesying doom to those who turn away from God. Where this hit Melissa was the way this prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus’ death. It’s not simply some kind of “type” as the Alexandrian Fathers might say. Rather, because of God’s eternality (there is no past, present, or future for God; He sees it all), Jesus is always already crucified, from the beginning. I guess maybe the Alexandrian Fathers would say that, too.

I suppose it’s why she likes Revelation 5:8 so much; the golden bowls of incense which are the prayers of the saints. She would ponder the eternal omniscience/omnipresence of God, and think of all the prayers He hears from forever to forever. She loved to think that worship joins not only those who gather all over the world any given Sunday, but also those saints from the past and the future. Worship never ceases. Duh, that’s what Revelation says…

A friend of Melissa’s, Sheila Price, who knew how much Melissa loved prayer said, “Just think! Now she really knows what to pray for!” Look out…