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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Fri, Sep 8, 2023 at 5:46 AM

Subject: 9-8-23 THOUGHTS

9-8-23   THOUGHTS

Matt 10:37   "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
Mark 12:33    AND TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL THE HEART AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING AND WITH ALL THE STRENGTH, AND TO LOVE ONE’S  NEIGHBOR AS HIMSELF, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
The ideas presented in the two verses here are not some nonchalant, walk in the park, tepid presentation!   The “MORE THAN”  IDEA  IS A PURSUIT TO PERFECTION!  Verse 38  below ought to bring us to tears!  This is the “WIDOW’S MITE” IDEA in a different  venue!  Our ATTITUDE is so important!  We must see the total emptying of this woman!  NOTHING HELD BACK!  The impossibility of EMBARRASSMENT!   GIVE IT ALL FOR I OWE IT ALL! This is dying to self in public!  Read it to the point of tears!  We must SEE THE HEART OF THIS WOMAN!    Seeing it, can we live it?

Luke 7:36-50     Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37  And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, 38  and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. 39  Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner."  40  And Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he replied, "Say it, Teacher."  41  "A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  42  "When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?"  43  Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have judged correctly." 44  Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  45  "You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. 46  "You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume.  47  "For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little."  48  Then He said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven."  49  Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?" 50  And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

My Prayer:
Father,  help Thou our unbelief.  Keep us from any false confidence.  May we be real as we love You more than all else.  Instill in our hearts the vital lessons we must know to truly be Yours!  Remove from us all fleshly lusts.   Hasten our feet that we might bless the Kingdom of Heaven.  
In the name of our Savior,    Amen.