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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Tue, May 2, 2023 at 6:10 AM

Subject: 5-2-23 THOUGHTS

5-2-23   THOUGHTS

We will do some "challenge"  thinking this morning.  Deut 6:4-5  "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! 5  "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”  In our Sunday morning auditorium class several weeks ago, we discussed two significant ideas: 1. The QUALITY of our “ALL”   and    2. The QUALITY of our SELF-EXAMINATION.   Both are vital to our eternity!  My DILIGENCE in pursuing my God, and my SELF-PERCEPTIVE ABILITY TO SEE THE REAL ME and change to the right, are keys to my being pleasing to God.  The people below missed both of these qualities.  They presented themselves to God, but they lived as they pleased in their selfishness.  Life was about them and not God.  They justified themselves, even argued with God that they were okay.  God says to them, in my words, “Give up the charade, shut the gates to my temple!”  The “all’s” of Deut 6 above are so very important.  Have I developed the ability to see myself as I truly am?

Mal 1:6-14    "’A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?’ says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name. But you say, ‘How have we despised Your name?’ 7  "You are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, ‘How have we defiled You?’ In that you say, ‘The table of the LORD is to be despised.’ 8  "But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you kindly?" says the LORD of hosts.  9  "But now will you not entreat God’s favor, that He may be gracious to us? With such an offering on your part, will He receive any of you kindly?" says the LORD of hosts. 10  "Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you," says the LORD of hosts, "nor will I accept an offering from you. 11  "For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations," says the LORD of hosts. 12  "But you are profaning it, in that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.’ 13  "You also say, ‘My, how tiresome it is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it," says the LORD of hosts, "and you bring what was taken by robbery and what is lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should I receive that from your hand?" says the LORD.  14  "But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King," says the LORD of hosts, "and My name is feared among the nations."

My Prayer:
Teach us, O God, to increase the quality of our lives for You.  Help us die to self and live for You.  Give us perceptive minds to see ourselves truly.  Train us to constantly assess our lives, and grow into Your fullness.  Raise our level of reverence as we increase our understanding of Your greatness and majesty.  May we love You with our whole heart.   In Jesus name,     Amen.