From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>
To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"
Sent: Tue, Apr 25, 2023 at 5:58 AM
Subject: 4-25-23 THOUGHTS
4-25-23 THOUGHTS
2Pet 3:11 “Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness”? We seek to answer this question in the reading below. I know of no place that is more powerful and succinct. As a living and holy sacrifice to God, I am to do and be some things. The setting for all this is in THE BODY, in Christ! It’s a marvelous listing that involves the whole of life. “Not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord”, sets a zealous pace for a loving, humble, peaceful, rejoicing Christian who blesses others. This godly person is “devoted to PRAYER.” This person covets PEACE. In this context, let’s pray for each other and for the Church that Christ died for.
Rom 12:1-18 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. 3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 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.
My Prayer:
Father, help us to become and practice all the wonderful truths we glean from Your Word. Help us to be devoted to one another in brotherly love. May we never lag behind in diligence, and cause us to be fervent in spirit as we seek to serve You, O God of our salvation. May the words that we pray occupy our hearts until they take root and grow in us.
In the name of the One who saves us, Amen.