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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Mon, Jul 1, 2024 at 5:57 AM

Subject: 7-1-24 THOUGHTS

7-1-24   THOUGHTS

The “great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us” is in chapter 11 of Hebrews.  Our lives are not a point in time, we are more like drops of water in an eternal river.  Encumbrances and sin affect our lives negatively, believers of the past affect our lives as positive examples.  They persevered and kept their faith, so can we!  Jesus, the significant figure of all eternity, is said to be the “author and finisher” of our faith.  The beginning pioneer and the perfect end!  We are reminded of the great cost to Him!  “Fixing our eyes” means “to turn the eyes away from other things and fix them on something”.   That “something” is OUR LORD!  JOY and ENDURANCE are set  against each other.  Our consideration of our Lord is not just thinking about Him now and then, it is a “FIXING OF THE EYES”!   We are to strive against the sin that so easily entangles us! We are not to grow weary and lose heart!  Surely these words are relevant to our times!

Heb 12:1-4   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;

My Prayer:
Keep us, O God, from the entanglements of this world.  We are deluged by distractions that are nothing.  Give us powerful discernment, Father.  Fix our eyes on Jesus, and help us in our striving against Satan.  May we endure as  He endured.  May our hearts ever remain strong. Please  keep us from the weariness that discourages us.  Help us to consider Jesus, that we may overcome on the last day.     In the name of our Savior,    Amen.