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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Thu, Mar 23, 2023 at 6:15 AM

Subject: 3-23-23 THOUGHTS

3-23-23   THOUGHTS

There are several lessons in our reading this morning.  Human nature wants to be the greatest, at the top.  That’s dangerous to the entire mind set of the Christian!  The illustration is classic Jesus, fundamental God thinking!  The next lesson is about causing a weak one to stumble. Instead of receiving, preventing is the behavior.  We don’t want any part in that way of acting. Jesus takes the preventative idea a step farther.  We have tendencies that can cause us to stumble.  Some characteristics are DEAD END!  Selfishness and arrogance lay the axe to the root of LOVE!  I don’t believe the terminology “cut it off” is to be taken literally, but it is to be taken powerfully!  We are to be TOTALLY SERIOUS ABOUT OUR INTENTION TO BE WITH GOD ETERNALLY!  We need to think a while on this.  The term “do not despise” means “think little or nothing of”.  We speak of VALUING each person!  Beautiful, innocent, unable to care for themselves CHILDREN, lovers of God, each needing our love.  These lessons are vital to our character before our God.  The LOST idea must always be on our minds.

Matt 18:1-11      At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"  2  And He called a child to Himself and set him before them,  3  and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.  4  "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  5  "And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me;  6  but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.  7  "Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!  8  "If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire.  9  "If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell. 10  "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.   11  [["For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.]]

My Prayer:
O Lord, give us the mind and heart to be like children.  Remove our selfishness, replace it with loving humility.  Give us hearts that value every person you have created.  May we live as true lovers, following the example of our Lord.  Teach us to put to death the things in our lives that cause us to stumble rather than thrive.  We want to be good children, Father God.  Give us powerful seeking hearts that know the joy of your salvation.  In Jesus name,       Amen.