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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Thu, Aug 15, 2024 at 6:07 AM

Subject: 8-15-24 THOUGHTS

8-15-24   THOUGHTS

WE WILL BE OUT OF TOWN TOMORROW.  NO POST!

Several places in the Bible show us that seeing our own sin is hard for us.  Here, a “man after God’s own heart” is laid bare in a simple little story from a prophet.  The story says  “ 5  Then David’s anger burned greatly against the man”.  I want to say “this wise sweet-hearted man who wrote most of the psalms wasn’t very perceptive?”  If I can’t see ME in this story (not the sin,  but the response to the sin!) , I need to do some serious praying!   Gen 4:9  Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" And he said, "I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?"  Not MY fault Lord, I’M innocent!  NOT TRUE!  I am only innocent by my faith in God’s love and grace and mercy in Christ Jesus.  Matt 6:1-4  "Do not judge so that you will not be judged.  2  "For in the way you judge, you will be judged;   and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3  "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4  "Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?          See   1Cor 11:31-32

2Sam 12:1-10   Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him and said, "There were two men in one city, the one rich and the other poor.  2  "The rich man had a great many flocks and herds. 3  "But the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb Which he bought and nourished; And it grew up together with him and his children. It would eat of his bread and drink of his cup and lie in his bosom, And was like a daughter to him. 4  "Now a traveler came to the rich man, And he was unwilling to take from his own flock or his own herd, To prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him; Rather he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him." 5  Then David’s anger burned greatly against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, surely the man who has done this deserves to die. 6  "He must make restitution for the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and had no compassion."
7  Nathan then said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8  ‘I also gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these!        [read Psalms 51]

My Prayer:
Father, give us discerning hearts to examine ourselves accurately, that we would not be judged. Teach us to be real in our thinking and living.  Remove from us all desire and ability to fool ourselves.  May we ever be pure and sincere in heart, O God.  We need You every hour.  May we come broken to be mended.      In Jesus’ precious name,   Amen.