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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Fri, Dec 29, 2023 at 5:42 AM

Subject: 12-29-23 THOUGHTS

12-29-23   THOUGHTS
Our next post will be 1-8-24.   Lord willing, we will be by God’s ocean next week.

BELIEF, FAITH, LOVE, LIFE and OVERCOMING, are key words below.  We are told that “whoever loves the Father, loves the child born of Him.”  My instant question is “Which Child?”  The answer must be “ALL OF THEM!”  Because “God is love...” we are in the loving business!  
Jesus said in Matt 5:43-45  "You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’  44  "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  45  so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  We must have His Testimony in ourselves!  

1John 5:1-13    Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.  2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 3  For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 4  For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.  5  Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6  This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.   7  For there are three that testify:  8  the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.  9  If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son.  10  The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son.  11  And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12  He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.  13  These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.  

My Prayer:
Father, thank You for the testimony of eternal life in Christ Jesus.  Teach us to love as You love.   As we believe in Jesus, may we speak boldly the good news of His salvation. May the testimony that is in us testify to His Lordship.  As You, O God, have set Jesus above all, may we do likewise.  May we let Him be Lord over our lives.  Bless our day, and our new year as You give it to us.       In the name of our Lord Jesus,          Amen.