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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Fri, Jun 14, 2024 at 6:13 AM

Subject: 6-14-24 THOUGHTS

6-14-24   THOUGHTS

The last two verses in Galatians 5 hold a key to our successful living.  Have we “crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”  Do we “live and walk by the Spirit?”   Luke 9:23   “And He was saying to [them] all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”   Jas 4:8   “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”    “Caught in a trespass”?  This is caught by the trap which sin always sets. We are not to be seeking the  mote in another’s eye. But we are to care enough to humbly and gently correct each  other. This is a part of true love.  It seeks the best for others!  Verse 4 tells us to examine our own work.  Maybe in this context, we are to know whether we, “ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires”?  There are two senses for “bearing burdens” here.  One is helping others in their struggles, one is our knowing the personal consequences of our daily living.  
 
Gal 5:24-6:5    Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  25  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.  26  Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.   6:1    Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. 2  Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. 3  For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4  But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. 5  For each one will bear his own load.

My Prayer:
Father, help us to overcome the flesh with its passions and desires.  Teach us to live and walk by the Spirit.  Grow in us a powerful, ever-present desire to know You fully.  May we live in Your presence.  We pray for a fellowship of love that encourages us all to love and walk closer with You, O God.   Give us better self-examination powers.  Help us to see ourselves truly, so that we can rightly adjust away from self and toward You.  May we keep on loving you with all our heart, soul and  mind.         In the name of Jesus,    Amen.