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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Fri, Oct 20, 2023 at 4:58 AM

Subject: 10-20-23 THOUGHTS

10-20-23   THOUGHTS

The place of blood in God’s design to save us is central.  It is key because LIFE is there, and it is key because it is the purchased cost of love’s redemption! God’s love for us is tied up in this picture.   We without strength or power, are freed from sin by the one with all the power and love.    But NOT WITHOUT COST!  The cost was determined by THE LOVER, and it was the “Dying, Bleeding, Perfect Son of God!”   The Spirit given words below tell this beautiful and powerful story.  It has been called “The Greatest Story Ever Told!”    
Heb 9:11-24    But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this   creation; 12  and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13  For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14  how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15  For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 16  For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. 17  For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives.  18  Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood.  19  For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20  saying, "THIS IS THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT WHICH GOD COMMANDED YOU."  21  And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. 22  And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.  23  Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.  24  For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;

My Prayer:
O God, having been awesomely cleansed,  may we serve You with and from, pure and excited hearts.  Deepen our roots by a knowledge of You.  Rekindle our desire for maturity in love and a knowing of Your glory.  We want to abide in Your presence, O Lord.  Help us to make ourselves known as Your children, as we follow Your awesome pictures of love.  May we never be satisfied with the meager.  Deepen our relationship with You, O God of all creation.  May we have the inheritance of eternity that You have promised.       

In the name of our Savior,     Amen.