From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>
To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"
Sent: Tue, Aug 1, 2023 at 5:48 AM
Subject: 8-1-23 THOUGHTS
8-1-23 THOUGHTS
“The Lord your God is one God... And you shall love the Lord your God with ALL...” Deut 6. The singleness of “God who is LOVE” and the rightful demand of submission on those created by Him, is most fundamental. We get it all mixed up don’t we? As our thoughts selfishly move from God to SELF... idolatry sets in. Evil desire and greed take over. Our “ALL” is compromised! We are at eternal risk! Rom 8:6 “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,” Eph 3:16 “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,”
Isa 44:1-20 "But now listen, O Jacob, My servant, And Israel, whom I have chosen: 2 Thus says the LORD who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you, ‘Do not fear, O Jacob My servant; And you Jeshurun whom I have chosen. 3 ‘For I will pour out water on the thirsty land And streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring And My blessing on your descendants; 4 And they will spring up among the grass Like poplars by streams of water.’ 5 "This one will say, ‘I am the LORD’S’; And that one will call on the name of Jacob; And another will write on his hand, ‘Belonging to the LORD,’ And will name Israel’s name with honor. 6 "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me. 7 ‘Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it; Yes, let him recount it to Me in order, From the time that I established the ancient nation. And let them declare to them the things that are coming And the events that are going to take place. 8 ‘Do not tremble and do not be afraid; Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, Or is there any other Rock? I know of none.’" 10 Who has fashioned a god or cast an idol to no profit? 11 Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are mere men. Let them all assemble themselves, let them stand up, let them tremble, let them together be put to shame. 12 The man shapes iron into a cutting tool and does his work over the coals, fashioning it with hammers and working it with his strong arm. He also gets hungry and his strength fails; he drinks no water and becomes weary. 13 Another shapes wood, he extends a measuring line; he outlines it with red chalk. He works it with planes and outlines it with a compass, and makes it like the form of a man, like the beauty of man, so that it may sit in a house.... 19 No one recalls, nor is there knowledge or understanding to say, "I have burned half of it in the fire and also have baked bread over its coals. I roast meat and eat it. Then I make the rest of it into an abomination, I fall down before a block of wood!" 20 He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside. And he cannot deliver himself, nor say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?"
Col 3:5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
My Prayer:
Lord, keep us from idolatry. Teach us powerful self-examination, that we might discern the craftiness of the devil in relation to the way we live. May we see You and Your gift of Jesus so clearly, that we live in Your presence and overcome in this world. Help us to abide in the Vine. In Jesus’ name, Amen.