Human Error vs. God's Plan - 2Ti. 4:3

"For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear. They will reject the truth and follow strange myths." 2Ti. 4:

While this definitely describes the days in which we live, Paul is very accurately describing Israel's past as well. Somehow, human beings seem destined to repeat their same errors. All we have to do is look at today's readings. God, through Amos, is condemning Israel for the very things Paul describes above in Timothy, then in Ps. 80 the writer is asking why God has abandoned them! The cycle repeats today. While believers of any one generation wonder what the point of all this is and why God puts up with it all, looking at the big picture, we see a God who is continually reaching out to his people encouraging them to come back. He may have to punish them to get them to see their error, but he waits for them with open arms. Ultimately, people are saved throughout these cycles, and this is God's ultimate purpose. While his patience seems eternal, it isn't -- there WILL come a day...

God, thank you for your ongoing act of love in granting us mercy. Thank you for the example you set for us in your word for how a loving Father NEVER gives up on his kids.

Today's reading: Amos 1-3; Ps. 80; 2Ti. 4