From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>
To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"
Sent: Wed, Feb 15, 2023 at 5:59 AM
Subject: 2-15-23 THOUGHTS
2-15-23 THOUGHTS
An adage of old says “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.” Paul encourages us to “PROVE” something in this reading. The proving involves ME and sacrifice! It takes me from living fleshly to living spiritually, which is called a TRANSFORMATION! Being CONFORMED to this world requires little but breathing, Living for God requires the continual RENEWING OF THE MIND! It’s time for us to awaken to this process! Common living is ME living. We are God’s people “bought with a price!” Our lives are to be “set apart for God!” 1Pet 2:9 “But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR [God’s] OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” The context of the discussion moves to our functioning in the CHURCH which is the blood bought BODY OF CHRIST, HIS BRIDE. .
Rom 12:1-13 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. 3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
My Prayer:
O God, we praise and honor and lift up your name. From pure hearts, help us to make your CHURCH work as you planned. Give us each the desire to supply the talents you have given us by your grace. Remove the common from us, and uphold us with your Spirit to grow and promote growth in each other. May we absorb your mind through your Word. The fields are white unto harvest, Lord send forth reapers. In the name of our Lord, Amen.