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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Tue, Jul 1, 2025 at 6:02 AM

Subject: 7-1-25 THOUGHTS

7-1-25   THOUGHTS

When I read 1John, I feel like John is saying to me “Be a REAL person”!  Stop playing a role
and  BE GOD’S CHILD!  Here, “in deed and truth” form the criterion for our KNOWING that we are “of the TRUTH!”  Then John brings  our hearts and consciences into center stage.  They are to be CLEAN!  We need to be able to “assure our hearts before Him!”   John won’t let us water down our self-examination ability.  Our hearts and consciences must guide us to the REAL!  Prov 19:23 a  “The fear of the LORD [leads] to life, So that one may sleep satisfied...”

1John 3:16-21   We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  17  But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18  Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. 19  We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him  20  in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. 21  Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;

A Prayer:
O Lord, give us the real intensity of soul that we may enjoy clean consciences.  May our joy in life come from knowing that we truly belong to You,  O God.  Teach us to see ourselves in truth.  Give us skills to view our own hearts accurately.  May we see ourselves as You see us, O God.  Help us at all times to submit and repent. May we abide in Your presence in peace.  Help us to present our lives in bearing the fruit of honest labor.  Keep us ever willing to love in truth.  In the name of our Savior,   Amen.