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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Thu, Jul 4, 2024 at 5:45 AM

Subject: 7-4-24 THOUGHTS

7-4-24   THOUGHTS

It is always good for us to read and think about prayers we see in the bible.  Repetition and reminder are ways God uses to grow us.    “We have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that...”   What follows is Paul’s wish for these Christians to see the position and status God has given them.  The knowledge of God brings life and fruit and good, and joy strength and power.  We are describing an effective, ALIVE CHILD OF GOD!  This adopted soul is a salt and light  “neighbor lover” who influences those around.  This soul is a work in progress needing forgiveness, but he sees the Christ who has redeemed him, and he joyfully responds to show the image of God in himself!  It is not some milk-toast, apathetic, lukewarm existence that is contemplated here.  It’s a new and powerful creation belonging to God!

Col 1:9-17      For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and  understanding,  10  so that you will walk in a manner  worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;  11  strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously 12  giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.  13  For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,  14  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16  For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him.  17  He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

My Prayer:
Lord, make us instruments of  Your peace.  Strengthen us with Your power in the inner man.  Make us alive as we live for You.   Give us a full awareness of  Your presence at all times.  Help us to discern right from wrong,   and vain distractions from profitable life.  Help us to absorb the things that make for profitable  life from Your Spirit Words above.  Keep saving us. O Awesome God.  We pray in the name of Jesus,      Amen.