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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Mon, Feb 26, 2024 at 5:46 AM

Subject: 2-26-24 THOUGHTS

2-26-24   THOUGHTS

Sometimes the way we assign value to things is not good.  Here, Paul speaks of valuing THE ONE GOOD THING!  He speaks of  “The surpassing value” of Christ Jesus his Lord.  Nothing else is important. It is called “loss” and “rubbish” comparatively.  A part of this “surpassing value” of Christ, is the promised “resurrection of the dead.”  “Press on” and “lay hold” are Paul’s actions as he pursues the most valuable thing in eternity!  Paul makes the point that he is trying to lay hold on that which “has already laid hold” of him.  Christ Jesus laid hold of Paul. Paul understands the power and eternal dimension of this.  So much so, that his LIFE’S PURPOSE becomes tied up in his desire for SUCCESS HERE!   He refers to it as “the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Peter speaks of this goal as a “LIVING HOPE”!

Php 3:7-14    But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  8  More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9  and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10  that I may know Him and the power of His  resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;  11  in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12  Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13  Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,  14  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
1Pet 1:3     “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”

My Prayer:
Father, we confess that our lives are too busy, unfocused and diluted.  We value and pursue many things unwisely.  Help us to find the shadow of the cross and abide there.  May Your upward call in Christ Jesus take over our hearts for our eternal good.  Give us eyes to see and ears to hear, O Father God.  Remove from us the meager excuses of this fleshly world.  May we learn to love You with all our hearts, and souls, and minds, to the end that we too will gain the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Teach us right valuing, dear God. We love and praise You, in the name of Jesus,   Amen.