Amos 7:14-15 — Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was a herdman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit: and the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.

This little autobiographical note is part of a punitive prophesy, where Amos warns Amaziah of what the result will be of his attempt to silence Amos. That’s not what spoke to me when I read it today though. It was the irresistible nature of the call that Amos felt.
I suspect that this struck a spark off me today because I spent time with a good friend who has recently embarked on a new ministry. I’ve watched with admiration as he moved aside from his business, moved into one ministry for two years and has now stepped up to lead an initiative that’s new for our area. I’ve been privileged to be privy to some of his thought process over the last several years, and the thing that sticks out is the way the call on him was so clear and compelling.
Like Amos, my friend was not a “professional”. He doesn’t have a degree in theology or a seminary-based training in how to do evangelism and ministry. Amos was a shepherd, a tender of sycamore trees — but he was called to be a prophet.
I believe that most Christians are Amos’s. How many people have you heard say “I can’t do missions (or share my faith, or whatever…). It’s not what I’m good at.” I dare say that was Amos’s first reaction too: “I can’t go North to be a prophet in Israel. I’ve got shepherd and tree management skills, but I never went to prophet school!” It didn’t matter. The Lord spoke, Amos answered.
Amos wasn’t in it for what he could get out of it. That’s part of what’s implied by “I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son”. He wasn’t a professional prophet, and was quite used to living of the fruits of his sycamore (mulberry fig) trees. I think there’s something in that for many modern ministries to consider. They typically lay significant financial burdens on potential missions people — causing a high drop out rate.
Amos didn’t wait around when he go the call. In fact he tells Amaziah that the Lord “took” him. If you are fortunate enough to get the call … Don’t wait, go.