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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Fri, Nov 3, 2023 at 5:08 AM

Subject: 11-3-23 THOUGHTS

11-3-23   THOUGHTS

The servant/slave idea in the New Testament is hard for us to truly comprehend.  Being a joyful, happy slave is even harder.  Either God owns me, or I own me.  1Cor 6:20  “For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”   The Greek word doulos carries the idea of being “devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests.”  Control and ownership is part of the idea.

Php 1:1-2     Paul and Timothy, bond-servants [doulos]  of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: 2  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jas 1:1   James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
2Pet 1:1  Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
Jude 1:1   Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
Luke 16:13   "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."
Jas 4:7-10   “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9  Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. 10  Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”
We sing the song... “Pierce my ear, O Lord, I pray... take me to your door today...”
Deut 15:12-17    "If your kinsman, a Hebrew man or woman, is sold to you, then he shall serve you six years, but in the seventh year you shall set him free. 13  "When you set him free, you shall not send him away empty-handed. 14  "You shall furnish him liberally from your flock and from your threshing floor and from your wine vat; you shall give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you. 15  "You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today. 16  "It shall come about if he says to you, ‘I will not go out from you,’ because he loves you and your household, since he fares well with you; 17  then you shall take an awl and pierce it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your servant forever. Also you shall do likewise to your maidservant.

My Prayer:
O Lord, make us humble and happy servants.  Help us to see the joy of not running our own lives for our own pleasure.  May the purpose of Christ be our purpose.    Teach us the things we need to know about our inward person and identity.  Teach us Your mind on “putting off and putting on.”   May we see clearly the joy of belonging to You.  Excite us, Lord, and make us alive to living for You and for Christ Jesus.  Empower our fellowship.   

We pray in His name,       Amen.