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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Thu, Feb 1, 2024 at 5:17 AM

Subject: 2-1-24 THOUGHTS

2-1-24   THOUGHTS

Reading the words below elevates my thoughts.  I am lifted to a higher plane, though one I can’t fully comprehend.  A certain AWE seems appropriate, demanded!  John is transferring words from Jesus.  Marvelous things have happened, and marvelous things are going to happen!  The words HE, and HIM, and HIS and I, are SO significant.  Think carefully on what follows each, such as  “HE  IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS”  or  "I  am the Alpha and the Omega,".  The blessings accrue to those who read, and hear and heed!  Christ “loves us and releases us from our sins by His blood —  6  and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father...”.  It seems that this whole arrogant, greedy, selfish world of ours will one day mourn over THE ONE who is the beginning and the end, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."  As priests, we need to be laboring in our Father’s kingdom!  Can we see the blessing and privilege?  Make today matter!

Rev 1:1-8    The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, 2  who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3  Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near. 4  John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5  and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood —  6  and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father — to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7  BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.  8  "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

My Prayer:
May we be in awe forever as we approach You, our God.  May the words that we read this morning arouse our sense Your Majesty and Glory.  May we humbly blush at our own weakness and sin.  May we rejoice that You have made us a kingdom of priests by the blood of Christ. The meaning of our eternity is bound up in Your grace and mercy and love, O Father.  Lord Come.   In the name of Jesus,    Amen.