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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Mon, Jun 17, 2024 at 5:59 AM

Subject: 6-17-24 THOUGHTS

6-17-24   THOUGHTS

As a precious reminder from our God, we return to an old favorite this morning.  Each of us needs to read this at least once a month.  It ends with  “be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11  for  in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.”   We see the word “diligence” in verse 5, and then in verse 8, “if these qualities are yours and are increasing,”.   It seems plain to this reader that God intends for us to live intense,  powerful,  productive lives before Him.  We are to be “fire in the belly” people, not  “ho hum  meanderers”.  So go “escape”...  as you read about the precious things God wants for you.  Surely He does not want us to be “useless or unfruitful”!

2Pet 1:1-11    Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:  2  Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3  seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4  For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5   Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6  and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7  and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8  For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9  For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 10  Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11  for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

My Prayer:
O wonderful Father,  giver of life,  help us to live powerfully and not passively.  Supply us with the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Excite our spirits to zeal and diligence in our pursuit of eternal life.  Keep our attention on the big picture of eternity.  Thank You for our  “living hope” that is in Christ Jesus. Help us to remove the competitive distractions of this life.  Remove from us the  lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.  May we love and live with great zeal.         In the name of Jesus,   Amen