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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Thu, May 9, 2024 at 5:58 AM

Subject: 5-9-24 THOUGHTS

5-9-24   THOUGHTS      

We find a people who saw the 10 plagues, and witnessed the parting of the Red Sea, and then “provoked God” pretty weak don’t we?  They didn’t see the Son of God on the cross, and the power of the resurrection.  We do!  We must hear and apply all passages in God’s word TO OURSELVES!  Learn to internalize each word from God!  Verse 13 says “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”  Here, we have life in simple summary.  The words “hardened” and “deceitfulness” are key.  It sneaks up on us!  The “daily encouragement” sounds so refreshing.  Does our current fellowship pattern accomplish this? Verse 12 poses the great question!  We must “take care”!  Hold fast our assurance FIRM until the end is the admonishment.

Heb 3:12-19  Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. 13  But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14  For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, 15  while it is said, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME." 16  For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? 17  And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18  And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19  So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.

My Prayer:
We love and praise Your great name, O God.  Father, give us a greater “holding fast”.    Help us to care more about the things that matter.  Remove Satan’s deceitful sin and temptation from us.  Focus our hearts and minds on the cross and the resurrection and lift us up to higher planes of thinking and living.  Remove us from a casual comfort, and a life of ease.   Turn our hearts from self to You, O God.  Give us a joyful earnestness in serving You. Help us to think about each other in daily prayer and encouragement.   In the name of our Savior,   Amen.