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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Mon, Sep 18, 2023 at 6:13 AM

Subject: 9-18-2023 THOUGHTS

9-18-23   THOUGHTS

I had a boss once that said “Take care of the big things, and the little things will take care of themselves.”  The passage area below argues against his wisdom.  We who live in California understand that a small ember can cause the most awful forest fire.  How often has one small word or phrase ruined a beautiful evening? The TONGUE is the subject below.  Little, but powerful, and often way too handy. It is James who hammers the “DOUBLE-MINDED” idea.  Here, the same tongue blesses God and curses man.  It ought not to be so!   The heart is the control agent.  The word BRIDLE is both descriptive and powerful.  The RUDDER on a ship is likewise.  Jas 1:26   “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his [own] heart, this man’s religion is worthless.”  Little things can make a big life!
Prov 4:23   Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it [flow] the springs of life.

Jas 3:1-12      Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.  2  For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.  3  Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.  4  Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. 5  So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6  And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. 7  For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. 8  But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 9  With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;  10  from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.  11  Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? 12  Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.

My Prayer:
Help us each day, O God, to diligently watch over our hearts.  Teach us self discipline and the bridling idea.  May our love for You set the foundation for all that we do.  May our lives be constrained by our understanding of Your love for us in Christ Jesus.  Give us priority and focus as we joyfully serve in the Kingdom.  Help us to understand fully the joys of fellowship in the truth of Jesus!  Help us here, O Father, that Your children may love one another with a pure heart, fervently.  Help us to take care of little things, help us to bridle the tongue.  May our heart-felt compassion find us lovingly telling of the power of the good news of Jesus.     In the name of Jesus,    Amen