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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Tue, Feb 13, 2024 at 6:04 AM

Subject: 2-13-24 THOUGHTS

2-13-24   THOUGHTS

Many thoughts come to mind in our reading today.  How rapidly can a life change totally?  The “Get up and Go” phrase is powerful.  The word  “appointed” in verse 14 is significant!  This is a commissioning of Saul! Saul, now was sent to the Gentiles.  He fullfilled God’s intention for him most powerfully!  He said in Acts 26:19  "So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision,”.  This short story is replayed in our lives in a fashion.  Our call is the “death-burial-resurrection” of the Christ.  Believing, we are to make other believers.  We are sent to a lost and dying world.  Can we say “I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision,?”    


Acts 22:10-21  "And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.’  11  "But since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me and came into Damascus.  12  "A certain Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,  13  came to me, and standing near said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very time I looked up at him.   14  "And he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth. 15  ‘For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard.  16  ‘Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’   17  "It happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance,  18  and I saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste, and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.’  19  "And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You. 20  ‘And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and watching out for the coats of those who were slaying him.’  21  "And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’"

My Prayer:
Lord of harvests, send forth reapers.  Teach us, and help us develop a mindset of of being sent.  May the joy of Your salvation pervade our souls.  Give us a “get up and go” that will connect our hearts with our hands.  Keep us serving You with our  “all.”   May our understanding of  Your love and grace and mercy, motivate a powerful drive in us to serve You always.  
In the name of Jesus,       Amen.