From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>
To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"
Sent: Tue, Mar 7, 2023 at 6:10 AM
Subject: 3-7-23 THOUGHTS
3-7-23 THOUGHTS
Reminding and remembering are a vital part of God’s way of imprinting His word on our hearts. Repetition is needful for us. Surely mockers are a part of our day. We believe the Lord will return someday and that all will change at that time. It’s been a very long time, by our counting, that this promise has been at hand and immediate! God is not timed nor bound by our days. He desires that ALL will be saved. Verse 15 says we are to “regard the patience of our Lord as salvation”. We must never forget the creation power of our God! If all this is true, WHO SHOULD THIS MAN BE? My bible here says, I’m to “look for and hasten” the coming of Jesus! Is this expectant attitude in us? We are to be in “LOOKING FOR MODE!” DILIGENCE is the last word! There’s a lot for me to think and pray about here!
2Pet 3:1-15 This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles. 3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation." 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. 11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you,
My Prayer:
Lord, always remind us of our littleness and your awesome might and power and glorious nature. Keep in our hearts that You are not us. May we strive for Your mind, against the fleshly lusts that war against us and within us. Keep Your promises before us, and teach us the things of diligence. Keep us holy in conduct and immersed in godliness. Make us alive in You and expectant of the coming of our Lord and heaven. In the name of our Savior, Amen