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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Mon, Jan 6, 2025 at 5:58 AM

Subject: 1-6-25 THOUGHTS

1-6-25   THOUGHTS

We talk about fellowship, and ministering to the saints, and hospitality, and brotherly love.  These are good things that ought to be.  They are part of God’s design for the Church.  The student rightly asks the teacher...”What does that look like?”   Our reading this morning shows a powerful relationship between teacher and taught... between saint and saint!   God’s WORD was shared as lives became a part of each other!  The “walking worthy of God”  in His Kingdom was the objective.  The Image of God is making its way into the minds of the people.  It must!

1Thes 2:3-12     For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit;
4  but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.  5  For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed — God is witness —   6  nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority. 7  But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. 8  Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. 9  For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10  You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; 11  just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, 12  so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

My Prayer:
Father, teach us the meaning of working night and day for the cause of the Kingdom.  Help us to learn the joy of giving up something for a greater good.  Make us powerful in imparting the good news of Jesus to everyone around us. Awaken us to every possibility near us to love someone in Your direction.  May we exhort and encourage and implore each other to a worthy walk with You, O God.  We ask for a closer walk each day.  We love You and praise You for living hope.  
We seek an alive abiding in Your presence.   In the name of our Savior,    Amen.