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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Wed, Feb 5, 2025 at 5:38 AM

Subject: 2-5-25 THOUGHTS

2-5-25   THOUGHTS  

Paul makes a powerful statement in verse 13 below.  “ONE THING I DO”.  The hallmark of our time is that all of us do many different things continually.  We are proud of our multi-tasking abilities.  We ride herd on busy lives making process our goal.  Our scorecard is a list of accomplishments.  Verse 8 says  “SO THAT I MAY GAIN CHRIST...”  There’s the goal  loved ones!  More specifically, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;”    May we “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  A powerful and present relationship with our God through Christ Jesus needs to be our focus.  

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.

My Prayer:
Help us to press on with the important, O God.  Teach us to reach forward for the upward call.  Give us skills and attitudes to make  us  “one thing” focused.  Surely dealing with many things will not go away, Father, but help us find the gain that matters.  Help us find YOU, O God.  With all our heart, soul and mind... may we find you and abide in You.     

In Jesus we pray,    Amen.