From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>
To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"
Sent: Mon, Apr 18, 2022 at 6:09 AM
Subject: 4-18-22 THOUGHTS
4-18-22 THOUGHTS
Now and then, scripture gives us a marvelous list of practical things to do. The idea of “how should this look in my life”, is supplied, it is obvious. It would be easy to skip over verse 11 below. It is not quite as specific as some of the others, harder to get a handle on. It summarizes a great problem in Christianity today. When we add the admonishing from Revelation 3, we have much to consider. As we studied Philemon yesterday morning, some key words were noted: prisoner, brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, the Church, saints, fellowship of your faith, slave, partner, fellow prisoner. The CHURCH will not THRIVE without a thriving people! We have some thinking to do, don’t we?
Rom 12:9-21 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. 20 "BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Rev 3:14-19 "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: 15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17 ‘Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19 ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
1Cor 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not [in] vain in the Lord.
Titus 2:14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
Heb 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,
My Prayer:
Wake us up, O Lord, to an aliveness in serving you. Give us your Spirit and remove the lust of this world from us. Help us to focus on things above, and cause a boldness in our telling the good news of Jesus. Teach us to be powerful disciples, that we may make disciples. May we be unwavering in our devotion to what matters. Thank you for Jesus, O God. We pray always in His name. Amen.