God doesn't give up
The 20th Sunday after Pentecost
I myself taught Israel how to walk, leading him along by the hand. But he doesn’t know or even care that it was I who took care of him. ~ Hosea 11:3 (NLT)
Interpret our Master’s patient restraint for what it is: salvation. ~ 2 Peter 3:15 (MSG)
KEY IDEA:
God does not give up on us, even when we are indifferent to his saving grace.
PRAYER:
Gracious Master, thank you for not giving up on us -- especially me. I make so many mistakes and am oblivious to your guiding hand. That really needs to change. I do understand enough to know that I can't make that kind of a change on my own. I need your patient care to move me forward toward greater awareness of the salvation that has been established by Jesus. Unpack that salvation in my life so that I can celebrate your generosity. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
