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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Wed, Jun 30, 2021 at 6:33 AM

Subject: 6-30-21 THOUGHTS

6-30-21   THOUGHTS

We see in the verses below, our Savior who endured horrible hostility as he died for me on the cross.  His enduring is then set next to God’s disciplining of us.  When we are disciplined... WE ARE LOVED!  That’s what it says.  Although this lesson is for adult Christians, parents would do well to heed!  The given reason  for the discipline is “ so that we may share His holiness.”  In addition, when we are TRAINED BY GOD’S DISCIPLINE... it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness in us!  We are discussing something that is GOOD FOR US, though it is unpleasant in its process!   God loves us enough to do right by us!

Heb 12:1-11   Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3  For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4  You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; 5  and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, "MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; 6  FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." 7  It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8  But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9  Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10  For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11  All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful;   yet   to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

I want to share His holiness and yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness as He lets me live.

My Prayer:
WE praise you O Lord of our lives.  Help us to use the unpleasant and difficult things in our lives as stepping stones to a higher faith.  Guide us to the fixing of our eyes on Jesus!  May we learn that being subject is not a bad thing. May we never grow weary and lose heart.  We want to be your legitimate, adopted children.  Please deal with us with loving kindness.   Thank you O God, for grace and mercy and love.  Thank you for Jesus.  We pray in his name       Amen