From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>
To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"
Sent: Thu, Jul 21, 2022 at 5:48 AM
Subject: 7-21-22 THOUGHTS
7-21-22 THOUGHTS
Below is one more place where it is recorded that God’s CHOSEN PEOPLE move away from Him. God remembers their youthful devotion to Him and then says “That they went far from Me And walked after EMPTINESS and BECAME EMPTY?” Can I say “they lost their FIRST LOVE?” Compare Revelation 2:4. Verse 8 says “they walked after things that DID NOT PROFIT!” THEN IN VERSE 10, “But My people have changed their glory For that which does not profit.” The Lord declared “"Be appalled, O heavens, at this, And shudder”. God summarizes noting two problems: 1. They had forsaken HIM, the SOURCE OF LIVING WATER 2. They made themselves bowls to carry and use water that wouldn’t hold water. That’s EMPTINESS! I must do some self-examination here! Am I FULL OF THE LIVING WATER, or am I basically EMPTY and going through the motions? It makes all the difference in ETERNITY!
Jer 2:1-13 Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, 2 "Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, "I remember concerning you the devotion of your youth, The love of your betrothals, Your following after Me in the wilderness, Through a land not sown. 3 "Israel was holy to the LORD, The first of His harvest. All who ate of it became guilty; Evil came upon them," declares the LORD.’" 4 Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel. 5 Thus says the LORD, "What injustice did your fathers find in Me, That they went far from Me And walked after emptiness and became empty? 6 "They did not say, ‘Where is the LORD Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, Through a land of deserts and of pits, Through a land of drought and of deep darkness, Through a land that no one crossed And where no man dwelt?’ 7 "I brought you into the fruitful land To eat its fruit and its good things. But you came and defiled My land, And My inheritance you made an abomination. 8 "The priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?’ And those who handle the law did not know Me; The rulers also transgressed against Me, And the prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after things that did not profit. 9 "Therefore I will yet contend with you," declares the LORD, "And with your sons’ sons I will contend. 10 "For cross to the coastlands of Kittim and see, And send to Kedar and observe closely And see if there has been such a thing as this! 11 "Has a nation changed gods When they were not gods? But My people have changed their glory For that which does not profit. 12 "Be appalled, O heavens, at this, And shudder, be very desolate," declares the LORD. 13 "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no water.
John 4:10-11 Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." 11 She said to Him, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water? (read on...) See Rev 21:6 & 22:17
My Prayer:
Keep us from vanity and emptiness, O God. Help us to partake fully of your gift of living waters. Thank you for eternal life. In Jesus name, Amen.