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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Thu, Feb 8, 2024 at 5:45 AM

Subject: 2-8-24 THOUGHTS

2-8-24   THOUGHTS

Our reading this morning is most fundamental.  They are simple words with a most powerful message!  To sum it up, LOVE, and  “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”  We cannot miss the URGENCY in verse 11.  “Awaken from sleep” is the caution.  We talked about ALIVE yesterday.  We who are older know that salvation is nearer than when we believed!  Our knowledge of the culmination of God’s promises gives us powerful  LIVING  HOPE.  Finally, life is a process of learning what to “lay aside”, and then laying it aside!  We must learn the joy and the blessings in this process.  

Rom 13:8-14     Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.  9  For this, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." 10  Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 11  Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. 12  The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13  Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
Micah 6:8   He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you  But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?

My Prayer:
O Father God, teach us continually to put on Jesus. Help us with the process of laying aside what is bad for us.  Teach us to defeat the self.   Help us, Lord, to simplify and focus our lives.  Center our lives around Your love,  and our loving as You love.  Awaken us and give us zeal and aliveness to finish our days on this earth.  May the joy of Your salvation  permeate our existence.
It’s in Jesus that we pray,    Amen.