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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Wed, Nov 8, 2023 at 4:52 AM

Subject: 11-8-23 THOUGHTS

11-8-23   THOUGHTS

We capture some powerful areas this morning from the early parts of the Colossian letter.  We must understand the “grace of God in Truth.”  The words in verse 6 “constantly bearing fruit and increasing,” may tell us how well we truly understand?  Lord help us.  Thank you Lord for “hope laid up.”  We must not claim some casual easy chair hope!   The words ring out “in truth.” It’s a “firmly rooted walk” that is demanded.  We are to be “built up and established in our faith... overflowing with gratitude.”  Christ has made us complete, from that, we must “walk in Him.”  Christ completing us, ought to give us a rejoicing SELF-STARTING nature!  It’s time to stop sitting and begin walking.  I’m preaching to myself!  I ask that we pray diligently to be awakened as we engage our world!  Let’s help each other sing the joyful song of Jesus.  

Col 1:3-6   We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4  since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; 5  because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel  6  which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth;
Col 1:12   giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.
Col 2:6-10    Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,  7  having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.  8  See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.  9  For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10  and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;

My Prayer:
For all the ways You have blessed us, O Lord, may we return a zealous walk for You.  Give us eyes to see and ears to hear as we engage souls each day.  May we stop the parade to hell by lifting up the name of Jesus.  May we help to draw men to Him.  Cause us to see the value of each soul.  Give us eyes to see and ears to hear the needy.  Help us to compassionately respond as we can.  Show us opportunity.  Keep us from turning our backs to our neighbors.  May the world know that we are Your disciples by our love for one another.      In the name of Jesus,     Amen.