2 Timothy 3:1-5, “You must understand this, that in the last days distressing times will come. For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, brutes, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid them!”
Even in the time of this pastoral exhortation to Timothy we find the prophetic voice of the future calling out to us. We read: lovers of self, money, boasting, arrogant, and abusive; this behavior sounds like today. This self absorption and tyrannical behavior is brokenness with God and with our neighbor. Listen to the arrogant political speeches about a politician’s self-importance and follow the advice of Paul, “Avoid them!” In other words keep them out of your government, your schools, your businesses, your church congregations and your homes. There are strong words in this pastoral letter and it would serve us well to follow what is encouraged to Timothy. At the core of this wicked behavior is brokenness that leads to spiritual destruction. We must avoid them and it.
Prayer: Loving God You have set our lives in motion and You have given us Your pattern for holy life. Help us bring to this world a sense of right relationship with You and with one another. In Jesus’ Name we pray. AMEN.
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