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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Mon, Oct 2, 2023 at 5:51 AM

Subject: 10-2-23 THOUGHTS

10-2-23   THOUGHTS

My honoring of Christ in my heart as holy, will set the stage for all righteous thinking and behavior in me.  That’s our first and primary take-away this morning.  Many good behavior thoughts are planted throughout this reading.  The end of our reading asks us simply to  “always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”.  In simple terms...  “What to Think, What to Do!”  Love, and gentleness and respect tell the REASON FOR THE HOPE in us!

1Pet 3:8-15 ESV   Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.  9  Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10  For "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 11  let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 12  For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." 13  Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14  But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15  but  in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy  (NASB “sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts,”),  always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

My Prayer:
Father, may we always set Christ Jesus apart in our hearts as Holy. First things first, O God, Jesus at our center in the highest place.  May we be ready, willing and able to give the sense of our hope in Christ Jesus to a lost and dying world.  We pray for opportunities to speak of our hope.  With love and joy, may we share our hope and not hoard it.  Keep us in memory that we can do all things through Christ that strengthen us.         In the name of our Savior,    Amen.