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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Fri, Jul 5, 2024 at 5:51 AM

Subject: 7-5-24 THOUGHTS

7-5-24   THOUGHTS

Christ is, first place and  all  fullness, our peace and the hope of glory!  The incomparable Christ is presented in our reading this morning.   Our part is to  “continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel .”  Paul says  “ yet  He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach...”.  Titus 3:4 -6   “But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5  He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6  whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,”
  
Col 1:17-27       He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18  He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19  For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,  20  and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. 21  And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22  yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach —  23  if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. 24  Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. 25  Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26  that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints,  27  to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

My Prayer:
Father, thank You for the words we have read this morning.  Thank You for Your  power and love that has made them true.  We praise and thank You that we are the Church,  saints in Christ Jesus. Make Your promise of the hope of glory,  alive and real and continual within us.  Strengthen our eagerness and zeal, O Lord.  You are an awesome God.          In the name of our Savior,   Amen.