From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Tue, Nov 7, 2023 at 5:46 AM

Subject: 11-7-23 THOUGHTS

11-7-23   THOUGHTS

Maybe we could say... “The QUALITY of our GROANING” is our thought for the day?  We groan for many things.  We need to learn to groan for the right things!  Groan and “LONG FOR” are similar, but there seems to be a serious if not mournful side to groan.   The Bible uses the word with a “reaching” sense to it.  There’s a certain INTENSITY implied!  Verse 4 says we are BURDENED while we groan.  We can identify can’t we?  Our reading says God gave us His Spirit as a PLEDGE, and that we should be of good courage!  Isn’t there SOURCE for INTENSITY here?  The word AMBITION is used in verse 9.   Our ambition is to be “PLEASING TO GOD.”  The reading closes with some serious RECKONING words. Our earnest and zealous pursuit of what is said must be part of our AMBITION!   Think and pray!  May we each be a truly converted disciple!  Luke 5:4  When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch."

2Cor 5:1-10   For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  2  For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven,  3  inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked.  4  For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.  5  Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.  6  Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord — 7  for we walk by faith, not by sight —   8  we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.  9  Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.  10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
Heb 4:13  And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of  Him with whom we have to do.
Acts 3:19  KJV    Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

My Prayer:
Father God, help us to take on more powerful and fruitful lives.  Prepare our hearts and help us to launch out into deeper waters.  May maturity in pleasing You,  be our ambition and mark.  Help us to do the work and make the investments necessary to grow into fruit bearers.  Keep us from tarrying in sloth and pleasure.  Help us to be of good courage.  May we be refreshed by Your presence with each breath we take.       

In the name of the One who saves us,   Amen.