From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>
To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"
Sent: Thu, May 26, 2022 at 6:07 AM
Subject: 5-26-22 THOUGHTS
5-26-22 THOUGHTS
Here’s my task: “KEEP SEEKING the things above, where Christ is...” Isn’t that simple?
I seem to have two problems with the above: 1. I don’t “keep seeking”. My seeking quality runs out of gas. 2. I seek wrong things! My FOCUS gets confused. Other problems follow. I don’t properly set my mind, I don’t DIE! CHRIST IS NO LONGER MY LIFE! We must continually examine ourselves on this level. It is fundamental, it is root! It all flows from this dedication.
Has God blessed me so much that I am consuming His blessings on myself? Is “my life hidden with Christ in God”? How is the renewal of true knowledge in my life going? How’s my NEW SELF? A renewal is always waiting to happen!
Col 3:1-17 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. 5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him — 11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. 12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
My Prayer:
Lord, renew us day by day in our zeal to learn of you and serve you. May we keep seeking what is right, and true and good. Set our minds on things above, and may we learn the discipline that puts off earthly things. Keep us from pursuing "the everything of the internet", and focus our minds on your truth from your word. May a new self arise in us, as we pursue diligently your mind and the things above. Teach us discernment. In the name of our Lord, Amen.