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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Tue, Apr 30, 2024 at 6:00 AM

Subject: 4-30-24 THOUGHTS

4-30-24   THOUGHTS  

Our reading this morning is provoking to most of our culture today.  The wisdom of our day thinks it has a better way.  But that’s always been the case.  Submission is not a favored word today.  Yet Biblically, it sits near the core of love!  The self is put to death as love is allowed to “not seek its own interest”.   Eph 5:21-28 speaks to this same thinking.   That our behavior can influence souls must be noted. That is true of men as well as women.  The summary in verses 8-9 is for each of us!   We read, “all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; 9  not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead;”   If we could all live this way instead of for ourselves, what a wonderful world it would be.  As the old song says... “Love makes the world go ‘round!”  This entire discussion is a subsection of love!  We are not being scourged to submit, we submit from an understanding of awesome love.

1Pet 3:1-8     In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2  as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. 3  Your adornment must not be merely external — braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; 4  but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. 5  For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands; 6  just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear. 7  You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. 8   To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; 9  not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.
Eph 5:21 Message Bible   “Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another.”
1Cor 10:33   just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the [profit] of the many, so that they may be saved.
Matt 20:28  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

My Prayer:
O Lord, remove all vanity and selfishness from us.  In love, help us consider others above ourselves. Always remind us that Jesus came to serve and not be served.  Help us to see that the roles we take are not valuations of ourselves before You, O God.  You value us in our weakness, not our strengths.   May we have the mind of Christ in all things, O Lord. Teach us the blessing of giving in all ways.   In the name of our Savior,     Amen.