From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>
To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"
Sent: Thu, Feb 2, 2023 at 6:04 AM
Subject: 2-2-23 THOUGHTS
2-2-23 THOUGHTS
The example of Jesus death on the cross, produces for us the mind and attitude we are to take to our world. Verse 7 says He emptied Himself! Selfishness and empty conceit are to be removed from who we are! Love for others is to overcome love for self! We must learn to work OUT what GOD WORKS IN! We must live what we believe. The end of our reading is very powerful. The intent is that God’s children will “appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life.” It takes an emptying and a humble soul to live out this aim. Keys: “fellowship of the Spirit”, “same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.” We must be a PASSIONATE Church!
Php 1:1-16 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.
My Prayer:
We know you work in us. O God, may we allow the fruits to permeate our lives. Lord, from one soul to many, teach us to be a passionate Church. Help us to understand the fear and trembling above. Make us of one purpose. Teach us to bow now, and ever be your children. Help us have the mind of Christ. Keep us from vain toil. Thank you for His Perfect example. In the name of Jesus, Amen.