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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Fri, Dec 17, 2021 at 5:59 AM

Subject: 12-17-21 THOUGHTS

12-17-21   THOUGHTS

One of our great human problems is to make LITERAL what was meant to be SPIRITUAL.  We think fleshly when we need to think spiritually.  The problem surely is manifested in Jesus’ discussion about “eating his flesh and drinking his blood” in John 6 below.  

Matt 16:5-12    And the disciples came to the other side of the sea, but they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6  And Jesus said to them, "Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 7  They began to discuss this among themselves, saying, "He said that because we did not bring any bread." 8  But Jesus, aware of this, said, "You men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves that you have no bread?  9  "Do you not yet understand or remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets full you picked up? 10  "Or the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many large baskets full you picked up? 11  "How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 12  Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

John 6:48-58    "I am the bread of life. 49  "Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50  "This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51  "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh." 52  Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, "How can this man give us His flesh to eat?" 53  So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves.  54  "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.  55  "For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink.  56  "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.  57  "As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. 58  "This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever."

2Tim 2:15    Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

My Prayer:
Father, we thank you for the spiritual Kingdom that will flow through to heaven and eternity.  Anchor us firmly in that Kingdom as we bear fruit and preach the good news of our Savior. Help us, O God,  to not be distracted by worldly skirmishes.  Make us diligent in our pursuit of YOU and the Kingdom of heaven.      In the name of Jesus,           Amen