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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Wed, Jul 21, 2021 at 6:06 AM

Subject: 7-21-21 THOUGHTS

7-21-21 THOUGHTS

So many passages tell us how God expects us to live.  
Gal 5:13-26     For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14  For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." 15  But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. 16  But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17  For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19  Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20  idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21  envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24  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.

If we could master what is above, wouldn’t life be grand?  Wouldn’t life in the Church be wonderful?  “But through love serve one another.”  There’s the key principle.  Try this in your marriage for a week...  try it for a day.  Make it work.  Can’t we see that this is from God, and it comes with promises?  
We have principles CONTRASTED above.
1.   "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."
2.    “Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another”.
We live in a world of the second!  When will we learn?  The WHOLE LAW is in the first!
There’s the SHINING OF OUR LIGHT to the world.  We must be SALT, HERE!  Matt 5:13-14

My Prayer:
Lord, drive the self from us.  Help us to put self to death so that we can truly live.  Teach us to love others as ourselves.  Help us see the joy of being like Jesus.  May each action be filtered through the eyes of love.  Guide us to rejoicing in understanding “not me”.  Teach us to truly die, that we might live, and may the fruit of love shine brightly in us,  as we live on this earth.
In the name of Jesus       Amen