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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Wed, Sep 13, 2023 at 5:58 AM

Subject: 9-13-23 THOUGHTS

9-13-23   THOUGHTS

The business of true humility and total motivation from love is what we are about!  If we are seen of men, God is to receive the glory! (Matt 5:16)   The temptation to “look good before men” is nothing more than a lifting up of the self.  Luke 9:23   “And He was saying to [them] all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”  We can do this even in the quiet place of prayer.  Here, the “secret” is between you and God!  It cannot be about ME!   As Jesus gives a prayer example, the forgiveness issue takes forefront.  God’s forgiving me,  becomes intertwined with my forgiving others.  Simply,  I’m to forgive!   If God forgives me, and He has so marvelously, how dare I withhold forgiveness from another?  Paul says simply in 1Cor 15:31b  “...I die daily.”   The battle with SELF must be won!

Matt 6:1-15   "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.  2  "So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 3  "But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,  4  so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.  5  "When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.  6  "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. 7  "And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.  8  "So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. 9   "Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10  ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11  ‘Give us this day our daily bread. 12  ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13  ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [[For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]]’  14  "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15  "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

My Prayer:
Father God, may we be forgiving  as You are forgiving.  May we be loving, as You are loving.  Teach us to overcome the self, Lord.  May we learn to die daily, in order to truly live.  Make it our goal, O Father, to glorify You without any self consideration.  May Your glory ever be the reason for what we do.  Teach us Your love!  Invade our souls with the power of Your loving kindness. In all this, may we witness the rejoicing blessing, the joy of Your salvation.  Help us to share this in our fellowship.  Awaken us to the blessings of joint participation in the blood-bought Church.    In the name of Jesus,     Amen.